By Lachlan Ellis<\/p>\n
As the state election draws nearer, the Greens candidate for the local seat of Eureka has outlined the projects and policies he would pursue, should he be elected on November 26.<\/p>\n
Twenty seven-year-old Sam McColl grew up in Ararat, where he says he found his love of volunteering with the local fire brigade, and where he \u201cbegan to understand the importance of community\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr McColl now lives in Ballarat, and works as the Venue Manager for the not-for-profit Ballaarat Mechanics\u2019 Institute, volunteering as a first responder for St. John Ambulance and regional operations officer for the Southwest Victoria region in his spare time.<\/p>\n
He said that what drove him to stand for election was a desire to see \u201cmore people like me in our state parliament\u201d, and a feeling that Eureka has been neglected by the major parties.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m only 27 years old, I\u2019m a renter, I\u2019m neurodiverse, and I\u2019m a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. I believe that with my lived experiences, I would be a great representative for the people of Eureka,\u201d Mr McColl told the Moorabool News.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor too long, our area has been taken for granted, and it is up to us to remind the major parties that regional and rural communities matter.\u201d<\/p>\n
In terms of policies to take to the election, Mr McColl said fixing the housing crisis, climate action, integrity in government, and better healthcare were major priorities for him and the Greens.<\/p>\n
\u201cRents are rising four times faster than wages, and too many people are locked out of owning a home of their own. To tackle the housing crisis, we need to end the special treatment for big property developers. The Greens will end out-of-control rent rises, make big property developers pay their fair share for more affordable homes, and ban political donations from property developers,\u201d Mr McColl said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the critical decade for climate action. Coal and gas are the leading causes of the climate crisis; meanwhile, the Labor Government is fast-tracking gas drilling near the 12 Apostles. The Greens want to replace coal and gas with 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030, while protecting workers and creating jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also on the agenda, Mr McColl says, are \u201cthe strongest integrity, transparency and anti-corruption standards\u201d to hold the next government to account, electrification of the Melton train line, $100 million for planning and early works for passenger rail from Geelong to Bendigo via Ballarat and a regional light rail, and an addition $5 billion for the healthcare system.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would like to remind people that your vote is powerful. This election, we can stop the major parties taking us for granted\u2026a vote for me is a vote for a better future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
For more information about Sam McColl and his campaign, visit www.greens.org.au\/vic\/person\/sam-mccoll.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Lachlan Ellis As the state election draws nearer, the Greens candidate for the local seat of Eureka has outlined the projects and policies he would pursue, should he be elected on November 26. Twenty seven-year-old Sam McColl grew up in Ararat, where he says he found his love of volunteering with the local fire […]<\/p>\n