Paola live on ABC!

Thursday March 24, 2011

Listen to Paola live on local ABC radio for the debate between candidates standing in the Keira electorate. She joins the Greens' George Takacs, Labor's Ryan Park and the Liberals' John Dorahy.

Listen to the full debate here: http://blogs.abc.net.au/nsw/2011/03/keira-candidate-debate.html?site=illawarra&program=illawarra_mornings

Paola in the media

Check out today's Illawarra Mercury for their special election guide. Here's the image of Paola's column with her 'pitch' to voters.

Also she appeared on local Illawarra ABC yesterday as part of a live debate with other Keira candidates including the Greens' George Takacs, Labor's Ryan Park the Liberals' John Dorahy.

George and Paola stood out as clear, rational and pro-people alternatives to the major parties.

Last week Paola featured on local Vox FM with presenter Trevor Mott. She was able to explain what the Socialist Alliance stands for and what she hopes to achieve in this election campaign.

With just two days left to the election, here's five reasons to vote for Paola and the Socialist Alliance:

1. Reverse the privatisations and support public ownership and control of services;

2. Rescue our environment with a transition to 100% renewable energy and green jobs, and protect natural biodiversity;

3. Increase investment in improving and rapidly expanding public housing, health, education and transport;

4. Include and support women, Aboriginal people, Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and Intersex (LGBTI) people, people with disabilities, refugees, the Muslim community and all those who are scapegoated or ignored;

5. Empower genuine grassroots, democratic control of our lives in our communities and workplaces.

Government's responsibility to protect steel jobs and cut emissions

** MEDIA RELEASE **

Wednesday March 23, 2011 - Local candidates for the Socialist Alliance have condemned the attitude of the two major parties towards action on climate change. They have also renewed calls for BlueScope Steel to build the cogeneration plant. Tony Abbott's visit to the steelworks and Ross Garnaut's comments that BlueScope should receive "assistance" for "90 per cent of their obligation" to reduce pollution have put the issue back in the spotlight.

Paola Harvey, Socialist Alliance candidate for the seat of Keira, said: "Tony Abbott doesn't even acknowledge the scientific consensus on climate change, he claims that carbon dioxide isn't a villain. How can we trust his comments on local industry when he displays no understanding of climate science?

"The truth is, the framework for a price on carbon, giving way to an emissions trading scheme, is a step in the wrong direction. Ross Garnaut's comments that BlueScope should only have to pay for 10% of its pollution shows how ineffective this sheme could end up being. If the big polluters can easily absorb the cost without changing their practices, then what's the point?

"BlueScope have known about the need to seriously reduce emissions for many years. They recently reneged on their greenhouse gas reduction deal with the state government by putting off building the cogeneration plant. The plant would reduce carbon emissions by 900,000 tonnes a year, but the steelworks have used excuse after excuse for the delays in construction.

"There is already too much carbon in the atmosphere; we need to reduce emissions across the board including in the steel industry. The state government should require the steelworks to start construction on the cogen plant now. If BlueScope can't afford to take this action they should be required to open their books to workers and the community. If they refuse they should be placed under public ownership, not given more handouts. Why should BlueScope's profits be placed ahead of a safe climate future?

Wollongong-based Legislative Council candidate for the Socialist Alliance, Patrick Harrison, argued: "The standard corporate response to any loss in profitability is to pass the cost onto workers. We've seen this with the steelworks during the recession of the 1980s, and if our state government does nothing, we could see it again in response to this carbon tax. But a publicly owned steel industry would mean the government could guarantee jobs and take action to make the industry cleaner.

"We need state and federal governments to be taking bold action in the face of the greatest threat our species has ever faced. Instead, Abbott is using Labor's carbon tax as another excuse to whip up fear and xenophobia, claiming that China and Indonesia will take our jobs.

"Mr Abbott's comments assume that this is an inevitable move - but the truth is, governments have a responsibility to protect jobs and the economy in a regional area like the Illawarra. Corporate hand-outs aren't going to stop companies moving offshore to cut costs - we saw that with Pacific Brands, which received millions of dollars of government assistance before moving offshore. Instead, we need a government that's willing to stand up to big business and stop them from moving our industry offshore.

"Neither the Coalition nor Labor is willing to do this. If the people of the Illawarra wish to protect their local industry and jobs, then they should vote 1 Socialist Alliance on March 26', Harrison concluded.

Paola's political understanding: 'amazing'

Check out this letter to the editor in the March 15 edition of the Illawarra Mercury. It describes Paola's understanding of the present political situation as 'amazing'!

Our candidates and campaigns receive very little media coverage compared to that of the major parties. But we are getting more and more feedback like this showing that people are looking for an alternative and listening to our ideas.

Paola will be appearing on VoxFM today from 12pm, and will also take part in a live, on-air debate with fellow candidates for Keira, George Takacs, Ryan Park and John Dorahy. The debate will take place next Wednesday March 23, 10.30am sharp. Tune in on 97.3 FM.

Queer candidates stand for marriage equality

** MEDIA RELEASE **

Monday March 14, 2011 - Queer candidates Paola Harvey and Rachel Evans are standing for the Socialist Alliance in the NSW state election. Harvey is standing in the seat of Keira, while Evans is standing for the legislative council.

“The federal government is dragging it's heels on marriage equality,” said Harvey, one of the founding members of Equal Love Wollongong, a community based group that campaigns for marriage equality.

“The marriage ban must be lifted, there should be no laws that discriminate against a section of society.”

“But until we win the repeal of the marriage ban federally, states can take action. NSW should take a stand for equality and legislate to become Australia's first equal marriage state.

“This year's Mardi Gras showed clearly that the queer community wants marriage equality, and that the community supports us. It was the most political Mardi Gras in years with 15 floats calling for marriage equality, and about 300,000 people attending in support.

“For too long the relationships of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people have been classed as different and lesser under the law. Our relationships are equal and the law must reflect that,” she said.

Evans has been campaigning for marriage equality for the past six years and is one of the key organisers of Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) and one of the organisers of CAAH's marriage equality float at Mardi Gras. She has also campaigned for a public inquiry into the death of Veronica Baxter, an Aboriginal trans woman who died in an all male jail.

Evans said: “The marriage ban reinforces homophobia and transphobia in society. Just under one in three queer people will attempt suicide. Queer youth get bullied in schools, and trans people face horrific rates of violent attacks.”

“Legislating for marriage equality is a step towards ending homophobia and transphobia, it's a step towards making our society a safe and accepting place for all queers. But by itself it's not enough, we need build a movement that publically campaigns against all discrimination and against homophobic and transphobic attitudes in society.”

The Socialist Alliance campaigns for an end to homophobia and transphobia. It campaigns for full marriage equality, and equal rights for all LGBTI people in society.

Paola speaks to IWD rally

Watch Paola's speech to the Wollongong rally for International Women's Day, held on Saturday March 12, 2011. The main demand of the action was for pay equity - supporting the campaign of the Australian Services Union (ASU) for equal pay for equal work.

Keira ballot draw

Check out the line up in Keira. This image is from today's Illawarra Mercury and it shows the order of the ballot draw.

Socialist Alliance has decided to preference the Greens' George Takacs first in Keira; and to put Labor's Ryan Park ahead of Liberal John Dorahy. Labor deserves to get the boot, but the Liberals will be worse! We'll be urging voters to put the conservative Christian Democratic Party (CDP) last on the ballot.

In the seat of Wollongong we are calling for a vote for Independent Gordon Bradbery first and the Greens' Brendan Cook second. In Shellharbour and Heathcote we're backing the Greens candidates Peter Moran and Phil Smith.

Scroll down this blog for Paola's media release on preferences.