The backbone of any community is small businesses. If you grow a small business you grow a community. When a small business prospers it brings wealth and employment to a community. It will be my aim if elected to mentor small business within the region to be successful. But, not only to mentor but to get rid of the red tape (the obstacles) that stop small businesses from being successful in this region. I will provide everything possible by council, for small businesses to succeed. If elected I will grow small businesses. Businesses will come to this region because I know what small businesses need to prosper.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT RUN BY THE LOCALS FOR THE LOCALS
Local government should be just that, a government for the locals, run by the locals.
All work should be done by local companies and local workers where possible. The key to making our Region prosper is to keep the money within the region. Even if we as a council have to pay more for the work; I say again we need to employ local workers and local companies, so the money stays within the region.
MONEY MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
I am very big on sensible money management. I don't believe in getting into massive debt. This is the way I have lived my life, call it old fashion if you will, but it has always held me in good stead.
With the current financial problems happening around the world at the moment the last thing we would want at the moment is to be in major financial debt.
TRANSPARENCY
At the moment in council we have things being done and decisions being made by the Mayor and CEO without full councillor's involvement or community involvement. I believe it is important to consult with elected councillors and then with the community.
COMMUNITY CONSULTATION
With the tool of the internet how hard is it to communicate with the public in regards to different projects that council wants to initiate and use rate payer money for. I have set up this website to relay my thoughts. I have a Facebook to communicate. An elected leader should not be uncontactable, unreachable, unapproachable and elusive.
Common sense should be used when businesses are wanting to start. Common sense should be used when a business is wanting to expand. We have too much red tape that hinders the operating or starting a business in the Gympie Region. My goal will be to address this issue. We need to address our by-laws and council laws that hamstring us for no logical reason. I will be making this a priority soon after being elected.
A VOICE FOR THE RURAL SECTOR
The rural sector has been forgotten at the moment. My background is from the land, I am still on the land. I will be seeking to free up red tape and obstacles that stop our rural sector operating to full capacity, which will increase productivity and employment.
