New Greens candidates push for free public services
The Illawarra Greens have announced two more candidates for the March 2027 state election
Free mental health care, free dental treatment and free public transport? A political pipe dream? No way, say two new Greens candidates.
The new Greens candidates for Keira and Wollongong have vowed to fix NSW’s ailing healthcare system if elected next year.
Wollongong City Councillor Kit Docker will contest the electoral district of Keira in the next state election and 2025 Wollongong Citizen of the Year Malika Reese will vie for Wollongong.
These seats are currently occupied by longtime Labor representatives: NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has held Keira since 2011; Planning Minister Paul Scully was elected as the Member for Wollongong in November 2016.
Left: A map of the Wollongong district. Right: A map of Keira. Source: NSW Electoral Commission
About 30 people – including NSW Upper House MP and health spokesperson Dr Amanda Cohn, Greens candidate for Heathcote Nick McLaren, Wollongong City Councillor and Greens Illawarra state campaign coordinator Jess Whittaker, and Greens supporters – attended the announcement on Flagstaff Hill at 11am today.
Reese – “an educator, performer, and an advocate for domestic family violence and for safe families” – said she was “passionate about Wollongong”.
“It’s been my adopted home for the majority of my life, I went to UOW here in the '90s. I had all my kids here, and I've been speaking all along to Wollongong communities and villages. I've taught children their first songs. I have helped families with their end-of-life celebrations.
“And I'm really passionate about safe families and safe homes, and I think that this New South Wales government is underfunding our services for mental and trauma care.
“Having a safe home should be everybody's right – it is what we need to have a safe community and a safe life for everybody.
“So, I'm here to advocate for free mental health care, trauma care, and dental care, we shouldn't have to be fighting for pennies to go to bills. We need to help slash bills and help families. We need everyone to have a simpler life.
“We need to be able to not worry about finding the money, for caring for ourselves, our physical wellbeing, our mental wellbeing, for those for ourselves and for our loved ones…
“All our votes count, and all of our voices count, and we should be heard, and I'm here to listen. And I just really, genuinely care about Wollongong. I love Wollongong so much. I'm here for the Gong.”
Docker said people are under pressure due to the cost-of-living crisis, our housing crisis, lack of access to "reliable and affordable public transport", and problems with the health system.
“We have a public hospital system, which still remains in crisis: recent figures show us that one in 10 patients who need a bed, who need access to care, have had to wait almost 30 hours for a bed.
“This should concern all of us … and this is a direct result of the priorities and choices of the Minns Labor government.
“We only need to look at the treatment of our health workers who underpin our public health system. These were workers who, under the previous coalition government, had their wages cut in real terms via wage cap and wage suppressions. And what was the approach of the incoming Labor government? It was to drag our nurses, midwives, and doctors all the way to the courts in the tribunal, for fair pay, fair conditions, and a proper investment in our health system.
“Our health workers, like the rest of the community, deserve a government which backs them in all the way, and has the priorities set for communities, not big business or property developers.”
In the wake of the alleged attack on federal Indi MP Helen Haines, both new Greens candidates acknowledged the safety risks of public life.
“I did talk to my family about personal safety,” Reese said, “and one of the things that I said in going into this is that it's really important for me that my family and I would be safe.
“One thing that I absolutely believe, with all my heart, is that we have more in common than we have differences, and that it's important to build bridges.
“If we just stop and listen to one another, we're going to find that we have so much in common: a common desire for safety, for shelter, for food, for just being part of a group.
“And I want to be that voice to say, 'You know what? We can actually get along.'”
Docker said that while he’s only been in politics “for a very short period of time” he “almost immediately” started receiving threats.
“I was subjected to physical, violent threats, both online, in the [Wollongong City] Council chambers. And, unfortunately, like a lot of politicians, I received a death threat, along with many other councillors. These are things that do rock you. They do have you looking over your shoulder when you're in the street.
“However, I think it's important to note that this is a very small minority of people that conduct themselves this way. The vast majority of people – whether they are One Nation voters to the Greens – are good people, and they do engage with their political candidates in good faith.
"I'm confident that we will have a safe campaign."
Dr Cohn said: “These two candidates behind me are doing something really brave by putting their hands up at a time where elected representatives are under attack, and I think that speaks volumes to the care and commitment they have to this community, that they care so much about this local community, that they want to put up their hand and represent them, and fight for the change that we need, even at a time where elected people are facing increased threats.”
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Ava Ferguson-Leighton
