[Greens-Media] Greens announce Federal Candidate for Parkes

[Lee Rhiannon]

UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 6AM WEDNESDAY 26 MAY 2010

MEDIA RELEASE - GREENS MP AND FEDERAL SENATE CANDIATE LEE RHIANNON &
CANDIDATE FOR PARKES MATT PARMETER

GREENS ANNOUNCE FEDERAL CANDIDATE FOR PARKES

The Greens NSW today announced that Matt Parmeter has been
pre-selected as the Greens candidate for the seat of Parkes in this
year’s Federal election.

Matt previously stood as the Greens candidate at the 2007 election.
He has lived in Dubbo since 1996 and has two school aged children.
Matt is a civil engineer and works for the NSW Office of Water.  He
has been working on farm water supply, town water supply and sewerage
projects throughout the region for the last twenty years.

“I am proud to stand for a party that has the know-how and integrity
to provide a sustainable future for our children,” said Matt Parmeter.

“The Greens offer a genuine alternative to the major parties which
have failed to offer long term solutions to the challenges of climate
change and building a sustainable economy.

“The recent seven years of drought has stressed the entire region.
Rain since last Christmas has been very welcome, but many effects of
the drought are still with us. I have been working with Councils on
drought issues since 2003, dealing with this one in one hundred year
event.

“Some effects of the drought are still with us; and nobody wants to
see it return.  The Greens want to tackle climate change head on and
avoid the predictions of a hotter, drier climate.  The low carbon
economy is the best way forward.

“The Greens have a clear vision for a clean energy future.  We want to
attract investment dollars to our region to create new local jobs.

“Investing in clean energy offers advantages, from upskilling local
tradespeople and professionals, to strengthening and diversifying the
NSW electrical grid, to improvements in technology leading to export
opportunities for Australia, all the while boosting our region’s local
economy.

“The Greens are also about caring for people.  In Parkes, a priority
is to ensure isolated communities and fixed income families have
access to services, and that aged residents and carers receive full
support from the Federal Government,” said Mr Parmeter.

Matt will be working closely with the Greens MP and NSW Senate
candidate, Lee Rhiannon, who is currently campaigning in regional NSW
to protect agricultural lands and water resources in the
Murray-Darling basin from mining damage.

“I look forward to campaigning with Matt in the Parkes electorate,”
said Ms Rhiannon.

“The Greens campaign for targeted government investment in public
services such as health, housing, welfare, and education will resonate
with people living in Parkes.

“The Greens want to strengthen regional health services and retain
small regional public hospitals and aged care facilities.  To fund
this, and increase the number of bulk billing doctors, we would reform
the private health insurance rebate system,” said Ms Rhiannon.

For more information:
Matt Parmeter – 0457 129 781; parkes at greens.org.au
Greens MP and NSW Senate candidate Lee Rhiannon – 0427 861 568