An “optimistic guy with a skeptical eye” who is vying to becoming the next mayor of the Sunshine Coast is calling for a ‘citizen committee’ to examine matters happening in the region.
Michael Burgess, who is well known for his prolific posts on social media, said now was the perfect opportunity to form a ‘voice to council’ that includes all candidates for mayor and divisional councillors.
“Rather than having a thoroughly unfair election where some are using their council salaries, cars, fuel, other ratepayer-financed equipment plus vast donations from various business lobbies, the voters, through a representative committee, could have an opportunity to drill down into these candidates’ laundry lists of promises and simple facile nonsense rhetoric,” he said.
“No genuine candidate should have any concerns about attending such a forum because it isn’t a ‘gotcha’ court but rather a place in which candidates could discuss their policy initiatives, their understanding of the basics of an economy and how their plans will fit into the Coast’s, and even learn a little bit from the committee members about how their policies could be made more practical and beneficial.
“Attendance would, of course, be voluntary and voters could make whatever they like of someone refusing an invitation for a sit-down.”
Mr Burgess ran for mayor in the 2020 local government election and received about 10 per cent of the vote.
His campaign website says he studied mathematics at university and, with his wife, began a business with a few thousand dollars that they built into a multi-outlet national chain of DVD stores and wholesale movie distribution employing more than 200 people.
The website says he is standing for mayor because during his long association with the Coast he has witnessed “a spirit of exploitation” becoming increasingly present.
“I intend to represent the whole of the region in achieving the best combination of lifestyle, environmental regeneration and economic prosperity,” it states.
“It should be remembered we cannot preserve our lifestyle or regenerate our environment without the prosperity to support long-term jobs sympathetic to that lifestyle and environment.
“We cannot have prosperity unless we include all the region and its people in our economic revival, we must turn those who are constructing houses for people without jobs to building productive long-term job-producing industry and trade facilities.
“We must respond to the challenges of an increasing population and changing circumstances thrust upon us with new initiatives that will ensure a prosperous economy affords protection to our lifestyle and environment.
“The vast space between the shoreline and the hinterland is such a unique place it’s a gift the community should treasure, preserve and turn to the enjoyment and benefit of the whole community as well as offering to the world an example of proper community development.
“We need to create jobs and apprenticeships in renewable energy industries, waste resource industry, and intensive horticulture.
“We also must create training institutes in trades and urban agriculture, and tourist industry based on eco-experiences of all kinds.”
Speaking about the ‘citizen committee’, Mr Burgess said it would be ideal if people from a range of industries and social groups became members.
“Maybe a maximum of 15 with a limit of two-minute questions and three-minute answers an interaction between the committee and a candidate could conceivably last four hours,” he said.
“The meetings could be videoed and made available on YouTube and other social media.
“This in-depth analysis where more questions are asked and answered, (rather) than repetitive and often shallow-of-content speeches made, may give voters a far better profile of who is available to be supported.
“The joint publicity of the forums also allows all candidates to present their point of view equally. It would eliminate any favouritism from the media and advantage some have from their existing profiles.”
Other likely candidates include TV presenter Rosanna Natoli, councillor Jason O’Pray, law expert Wayne Parcell, businesswoman Min Swan and community advocate and businessman Ashley Robinson.
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