Well we're probably best known in Newcastle for our [building] frontage in Newcastle. We're an activist party of socialists. We're an intergenerational party and the issues that we're really fighting, and our members are dealing with at the moment, are a question of finding a place to live, that they can pay the rent in or mortgage. And also the whole question of climate change.

Is the party relevant at local government level?

We've had more success at local government. Around the country we've got several socialist councillors and what they do is bring those issues home to councils - how to make housing more affordable and what you can do in practical terms about climate change.

Why are you running for council and lord mayor?

These issues are more than just talk, we don't just raise them at election time - we raise them consistently. We think we can make a contribution to the debate in the city around these issues. People would know some of my ideas, I occasionally write an opinion piece in the Herald. I've got ideas and experience with activism. I've also got the qualifications: I've got a PhD in health sociology, master of fine arts, significant management experience and I'm an elected officer in a couple of trade union bodies. Also I can get on with people too, I think.

As an outsider looking in, how has the council been performing in recent years?

We've been pretty disappointed in the fact that council has some wonderful policies, but has failed to implement them. It's a question of consistency. How can you declare a climate emergency - which I agree with - then spend a huge amount of money subsidising a fossil-fuel driven Supercars race? The other lack of consistency is consultation.

Why should residents be having to put in freedom-of-information requests to get basic information about council activities? We need more transparency.

What has the council been doing well?

To declare a climate emergency was a terrific move ... but you have to act accordingly. We are the world's biggest coal port and are contributing to the global warming, so we have to understand that, work around that and shape the future of our city.

What will be your priorities if elected?

We want to address the issue of housing. We've had a building boom in this city and still we have a big problem with housing availability and affordability. That's something wrong. It's a state and federal government problem and I'd be looking at forming an alliance of mayors to push this agenda so we have a real effort to create the number of houses that we need. And also have them carbon-neutral so it reduces the actual cost of living in them. We need to be making the cost of housing affordable, otherwise the people that have lived here for a long time get forced out.

What is the biggest challenge facing the next council?

Climate change. Councils should be taking advantage of the opportunities like the Hunter Jobs Alliance. I grew up in a mining family and I understand people have jobs and tradition, but it's going to change. The industry is going to go down the tubes. The opportunity is in renewables and the Hunter Jobs Alliance approach is really good where you bring workers and environmentalists together. Create something positive out of something negative.

I worked in the Newcastle Steelworks for 10 years and we knew that place was going to close down a long time before it did and what did we do about it? Did we plan? No. We've still got a big empty paddock over there.

We need to understand what has happened in the past to plan for the future. That's our opportunity and it doesn't have to be negative. It can be positive. We've got the skills, the background and the solidarity in this town to make something of it.

You're viewed as a longshot to claim a seat in Ward 1, but you believe you're a real chance - why is that?

The new regulations due to COVID are a bit of a level playing field because the majors [parties] are not able to do what they do with a lot of people and we can mobilise on the ground.

We've letter-boxed all of our how-to-votes, we've done two complete letter-boxes of the entire ward. And also, look at the maths; Labor, The Greens and Socialist Alliance are, in a sense, swapping preferences.

We don't do deals, but the independents and the Liberal Party - they're just exhausting their preferences. It creates an opportunity for us. There's a chance for us to take that third ward spot [in Ward 1]. We are serious contenders and I think we've been underestimated.

A message to voters?

We know what the problems are in this city but we're really on about finding solutions to them.

We think we've got some great ideas to really do with affordable housing and start to do something with the climate, and solve that emergency ... we can't afford to have [a] business-as-usual approach, we need those innovative-type ideas. But what's most important is democracy and empowering the people, bringing everybody along at the same time.

N THE NEWS:

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: