Let’s stop the name-calling, says Greens candidate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Senator Barnaby Joyce’s labelling of measures against climate change as ‘Nazi’ is completely unacceptable,” says Greens preselected candidate for Moggill, Dr Philip Machanick. “In announcing my candidacy for the 2009 Queensland state election, I would like to appeal to all sides to desist from disrespectful language. The problems we are faced with are too serious to descend to emotional mud-slinging.”
Dr Machanick continues: “I hope my opponent in Moggill, Dr Flegg, repudiates this sort of language. My parents both served in World War II, and my mother reminded me frequently of how dreadful the Nazi regime was. Any Jewish person seeing Senator Joyce’s remarks would rightly feel repulsed. For Senator Joyce to equate a scientific position he doesn’t accept to the systematic subjugation and slaughter of millions is absurd and offensive. It is an affront to our veterans and the memory of the millions of victims of Nazi aggression.
“The Greens have serious misgivings about the climate change policies of the federal government, but this is no reason to equate their position to an extremist police state regime. Senator Joyce has objected to being called a ‘denialist’, claiming that this label equates his position with Nazism. How can he then use the language he has used?”
Dr Machanick, as a scientist of over 25 years’ experience, is able to make sense of the science of climate change without resorting to mud-slinging to distract from real issues. He aims to stick to the issues that matter in the upcoming campaign: creating sustainable jobs, promoting renewable energy, protecting the environment locally as well as great icons like the Great Barrier Reef, fixing public transport to the outer western suburbs of Brisbane, creating local facilities to reduce the need to travel and building a liveable community.
The Moggill electorate, as part of the green lungs of the city, has pristine natural spaces that should be protected as part of maintaining the environment and quality of life for residents. Dr Machanick is committed to maintaining the character of this special part of Brisbane, while correcting the chronic lack of infrastructure development in the electorate.
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Background
A news report headlined “Environmentalism is like Nazism, Senator Barnaby Joyce says”
Contact
Contact: Dr Philip Machanick, Greens preselected candidate for Moggill
Email: greenupmoggill@gmail.com
Phone: 042 234 6909
Website: www.greenupmoggill.org