Australia First Party - Ward 5 Candidate - 'whyilovemountdruitt'

As I have sent an email to the three candidates of the Australia First Party it was addressed to the  3 candidates, running in  Ward 5: Cassie Orrock Terry Cooksley Thomas Bell The repsonse email came from an Australia First Party email  with no known original name. So, we will have to assume that the candidate that responded would have been the primary name on the ballot paper, Cassie Orrock. Here is their  'whyilovemountdruitt' version:   Australia First Party Inbox x ausfirst@alphalink.com.au 28 Aug (1 day ago) to me Dear John, As below, my reply to you. Please excuse the terrible delay in answering you. It is my first time as a candidate and I am learning as I go. MY SAY ABOUT MT DRUITT I thank you for allowing me to have my say and answer your question about Mt Druitt. I think it’s asked because Mt. Druitt has often been subjected to unfair criticisms to the point where residents from other suburbs have always considered it a place that has too many challenges. Although I don’t live in the Mt Druitt cluster of suburbs like my other running mates for Australia First Party, I do however, have a child who attends a High School in Mt Druitt and I frequently shop in the area. I am also mindful of the small businesses in the local area that will be affected by the government’s intention of completely remodelling the shopping precinct to simulate their business model – like that of the Wolli Creek and Green Square shopping areas where many local businesses were squeezed out. This is not in the best interest for the community of Mt Druitt and soon local people will not be able to afford to live in Mt Druitt let alone run businesses in the area. It is my view that Mt Druitt is a target for a type of property development which is linked to Australia’s mad rush down the path of economic globalisation. If Mt Druitt is economically compromised, I cannot see this model of locking everything in to some sort of global agenda will ever make our lives better. I reject the Sydney-wide project to build new CBD’s around a residential tower system grouped at railway stations. This system is for immigrants who have not arrived in Australia yet. It will not only force out local business and people, but particularly public housing people – like in Waterloo where pensioners and other vulnerable people are being given their marching orders. We all know Mt. Druitt does have a sense of community and that will be undermined. We should have the right to say that immigration as a great overarching benefit is a myth that has had its day. Where do we as Australians in the future fit into the scheme of these plans? Will we be pariahs in our own country? Coupled with that, it is on the cards that public housing in the Mt Druitt area may be sold to Serco an international outsourcing company that operates military weapons, detention centres, call centres, prisons and even some schools for Governments. In Britain, Sercos’ track record is appalling to the point of providing substandard housing and unethical treatment of residents. The idea that disadvantaged Aussies be stood over by international interests should not be tolerated. There also an urgent need for more refuges for victims of domestic violence as presently there is a shortage of such facilities, including shortages of basic accommodation for homeless people. We need more affordable housing; therefore Public housing needs to stay in the hands of the people, not in the control of an international company based in Britain. When public housing is run for profit, community interests are off the agenda. I believe that better public services make stronger communities and ultimately people make better life decisions. I believe Council should have full legal recognition for development decisions and we should give residents considerable power over what developments occur in their streets and suburbs. I believe we should hold of plebiscites in the city and broader people’s panels - to inform Council as to the popular will. Government by General-Manager and Local Government Minister is a fraud on democracy. Some might say this would cost money. Okay. But when wrong decisions are taken we all lose out. Further, we actually do build that sense of community when people really do participate in making decisions) Mt Druitt has enormous potential to be a thriving hub of community resilience and financial prosperity. Many people living in Mt Druitt want to make a difference and Mt Druitt is one of the last few Western Suburbs that still maintains its Australian spirit. That’s what I like about Mt. Druitt.