Colin Hamilton
PLATFORM
THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE IS STRONGER THAN THE PEOPLE IN POWER
"I come from a proud farming family that has been involved with various community service groups for as long as I can remember. I want to work for you. I believe there is a need to create safer communities , encourage regional development , protect our prime ag land and precious water supplies , prevent further sell-off of State Owned Assets, increase the up-take of renewables and recyclables. With my previous experience, I know that by working with communities we can get things done, and create vibrant communities and assurances for our future generations."
SAFER COMMUNITIES
Our communities are sick and tired of the increasing rates of "break and enter" and "car theft" offences occuring not only in our towns but rural areas throughout the electorate as well. A large majority of these crimes are drug related. Not only is this very disturbing to all of us who fall victim to crime, but it is a sad reflection of the break down of our community structure and respect for one and other.
I would support greater police resources to stamp out the drug peddlers and supply chains, and harsher pennalties for the "Mr Bigs" of the drug industry when caught.
I believe we all have a role to play in our communities to better educate our young people and steer them on a path away from drugs and "petty " crime. Creating better job prospects in local towns and fostering new, sustainable development will go a long way toward improving the outlook of our youth.
PREVENT SELL-OFF OF STATE ASSETS
I disagree with the continued sell-off of the State Owned Assets. It makes no economic sense to me to sell off assets which are returning a good income to then spend it on infrastructure which won't return a cent. Selling the "poles and Wires" will only lead to one thing, higher electricity costs. I liken it to selling off the front half of the farm so you can pay off some debt, fix the fence across the back which burnt down in a fire five years earlier and put a new roof on the shed which blew off in a storm ten years ago. The half of the farm you have left may look good, but once the "Sugar Hit" is over, you have less earning capacity to continue business. Borrowing the money to complete the repairs would make more sense in this current low interest environment.
PROTECT OUR PRIME AG LAND
Clear boundaries need to be set and adheard to, to create "No-GO" zones for mining and gas activities. These would include "Prime Ag Land", any land which over-lays our precious groundwater aquifers or recharge areas of the Great Artesian basin,and areas containining sites of Aboriginal significance and heritage.
RENEWABLES & RECYCLABLES
I acknowledge that coal has been a major contributor to the growth and development of mankind and the pleasures we enjoy today. However, the people of this country are far smarter than to continue down this path of "dig it up and sell it off", leaving a legacy our children will never survive. Our electorate is crying out for more renewables such as solar/geothermal industries. These industries are expanding across the country and are now cheaper to operate than coal. This would create new sustainable employment opportunities throughout the region.
I am also a firm advocate of recycling our waste more effectively than we currently do. I believe that each town/city should have their own "bio-digester" facility to process sewage effluent and all carbonaceous material currently going in to landfill. These operations would not only create new and lasting business opportunities, but capture methane which currently escapes to the atmosphere, drastically reduce landfill, and create high value fertiliser and power generation as a by product.