The Greens candidate for Werriwa, Signe Westerberg, says she finds it distressing that present governments are using South West Sydney as a dumping ground.
“Being a growth region we are expected to accept significant increases in the number of residents, however little is being done to ensure transport and access to work are within reach,’’ says MS Westerberg.
“We have way too many residents unable to secure full time work, and what work can be found is often casual and a distance away.’’
Ms Westerberg, who is an administration manager, has lived in Liverpool since 1960.
She joined the Greens in 2009, after running as an independent for Liverpool Council.
“That experience led me to believe our community felt more confident with a group of candidates,’’ she says now, a little over three weeks from a federal election.
“I thought about creating my own political party, and thoroughly researched the policies of Labor, Liberals and the Greens.
“I realised that the Greens were already standing/fighting for many of the same issues I was seeking to represent, and that I really didn’t need to reinvent the wheel.
“What was better still was that I found that the decisions in the Greens are made by the membership not the elected MPs, and that was very compelling.’’
Ms Westerberg says she passionately believes in equal access and equal rights and hopes to get elected to fight for them.
“All people deserve to be treated well, cared for and encouraged to reach their potential,’’ Ms Westerberg said.
“We can only do this when we have politicians who value every member of the community and make sure they have access to quality free education, work opportunities, and effective transport options, and that we care for those who are unable to care for themselves.
“We can’t achieve this with the two old parties stuck in a rut of adversarial politics – change can only come from supporting good policy, regardless of who puts it forward.””
Ms Westerberg says many of our politicians have lost touch with the community.
“They don’t live in the real world, or understand the day to day needs and issues facing our communities,’’ she said.
“I am also keen that the community is able to find out who is paying their fair share in taxes, who is sucking the blood of the public purse and who is funding the political organisations.’’
