QuestionnaireforDarebinCouncil

candidates

YouranswerswillbeuploadedtotheDarebinCommunityNetworkwebsite.Pleaseattachaphoto.
Name: MichaelCornthwaite

Preferredcontactdetails:

0432522657
mikeindarebin@gmail.com

Areyouamemberofapoliticalparty?Ifso,whichone?
Yes.AustralianLaborParty
Areyounominated,supported,orbackedinanywaybyapoliticalpartyinthiselection?Ifso,which
one?
YesIamaLaborsupportedcandidate.

BACKGROUND
1. Whyareyoustandingfor(re)electiontocouncil?(Maximumof100words)
IhavelivedinDarebinmostofmyadultlife.MywifeandIareraisingour3childrenhere.Iamdriven
bythecoreLaborvaluesofcreatingcommunitiesbuiltonfairness,equality,justiceandinclusion.
Iamstandingforelectionontoensureourcouncilrenewsitscommitmentto:

Goodgovernance,inclusivedecisionmakingandfinancialresponsibility.
Environmentalsustainabilityandsociallyappropriatedevelopment.
Qualitycouncilprovidedservices.
Astrategicplanningframeworkthatempowersallresidents.
Encouragementofbusinessdevelopmentandjobscreation.
Developmentofavibrant,culturallyrichandsociallyinclusivecommunity.

2. Whatarethreeofyour(relevant)achievementsinrecentyears?(Maximumof100words)
IworkedasaresearchsupporttoPatrickDodsonandproducedanannotatedlegalbibliographythat
wasusedasaresourceindeterminingthePrimeMinistersExpertPanelonConstitutionalRecognition
ofIndigenousAustralianstermsofreference.
IcoauthoredareportentitledEqualAccesstotheJusticeSystem:ReportonLegalServicesand
InformationforGLBTIQVictorians.Thisreportwasdevelopedviabroadconsultationwithadiverse
rangeofstakeholders.
AsaFieldOrganiserwiththetheCommunityandPublicServiceUnion(PSU)Iveorganised,advocated
andlobbiedFederalMPstoachievesubstantiveresultsforlocalcommunities.
Thesethreeexamplesdemonstratemycommitmenttosocialjusticeandmypassionforcommunity
organising.

SUSTAINABILITY

3. If(re)elected,whatactionwouldyoutaketoreduceDarebinsgreenhousegasemissionsandsupport
therolloutofrenewableenergy?

Ihavedetailedworkingknowledgeorthelegislativeandregulatoryrequirementsofcurrentstateand
federalrenewableenergyschemes.IwilladvocateforDarebinCounciltohaveamuchmoreactive
roleinfacilitatingresidentandsmallbusinessaccesstotheseschemesparticularlytheSmallScale
RenewableEnergyScheme(SRES).ThecurrentcouncilsSolarSaverprogramisagreatstart!
HoweverIbelievecouncilcanrapidlyincreasetheuptakeofrenewableenergyinourmunicipality
throughcreativeandwelldesignedprogramsthatencourageparticipationofresidentgroupsandlocal
businesses.
IwillalsoseektoexpandourcurrentUrbanForestprogramandourotherclimatechangepoliciesto
exploretheviabilityoflinkingtheseinitiativestoexistingrecognisedcarbonsequestrationcertification
ifviablethisplanwouldallowDarebintoplant

moretreesatalowercosttoratepayers,strengthen
thelegalprotectionandconservationofournaturalenvironment,anddirectlyparticipatein
meaningfulglobalactiontoaddressclimatechange.

DEMOCRACY
4. If(re)elected,whatactionwouldyoutaketoimprovetheaccountabilityandtransparencyofcouncil
andfacilitateconstructivedecisionmaking?
Iwillpushfortheformatofpublicquestiontimeduringcouncilmeetingstobechangedsoastoallow
membersofthepublictoaskdirectquestionsofindividualcouncillors.Iwillnotshyawayfrom
criticismandIwillembracerespectfulpublicdebateofcouncilmatterswhereverpossible.Iwill
advocateforthecreationofmoreconsultativeforumsonkeyissues.PersonallyIwillseektoconsultas
broadlyaspossibletoensureeverydecisionImakeoncounciliswellinformedandrepresentativeof
communityviews.Iwillalsoencouragemyfellowcouncillorstofosterpositiveandconstructive
workingrelationshipswithoneanother.

5. Campaignfunding.Doyoupromise:
a. nottoacceptcampaigndonationsfrompropertydevelopers,directlyorviaintermediaries,in
thiscouncilelectioncampaign?[yes]
b. nottoacceptcampaigndonationsfromgamblinginterests,directlyorviaintermediaries,in
thiscouncilelectioncampaign?[yes]
c. tosupporttheintroductionofarequirementthatallgiftsordonationslargerthan$150are
declaredinrealtime(similartothemeasuresrecentlyadoptedbytheMelbourneCity
Council).[yes!!]

6. Blocvoting.
a. If(re)elected,wouldyoubefreetovoteoneachissueonitsmeritsorwouldyoubeboundto
voteaspartofabloc?freetovoteonthemerits
b. Ifyouwouldbepartofavotingbloc,whichpartyorothercandidatesareinvolved?
none
Thankyoufortakingthetimetoanswerourquestions.