CANDIDATE Q & A: Trevor Anthoney, Bullet Train for Australia Party candidate for Charlton
What motivated you to run for the seat of Charlton?
It is where I have lived for over 12 years and the planned high speed rail (HSR) station will be located in this electorate.
* What issues are important to you in the electorate?
Creating employment and opportunity, whilst developing a fast, green, efficient transport option that will serve us well into the 21st century.
What would be your first priority if elected?
To begin consultation with the states, establish inter- governmental agreements for HSR, and fast-track this vision as a No1 priority for job creation.
* What will people be getting if they vote for you?
Voters will be voting for something real and equally usable for all people from all walks of life. It will allow people to live outside our cities and it will stimulate regional areas like no other policy on offer.
You’re running with Bullet Train for Australia party – what is it about the party that drew you to it?
I love trains and I have travelled the current Newcastle to Sydney route many times over 30 years, and it is actually slower than it used to be. The most recent journey was a wake up call to what we will be stuck with for 50 years if we don’t do something about it now. The promise of high speed train travel and its superiority compared to flying, as well as the fact that our regional areas can be serviced by such a network provided ample inspiration towards my running as a candidate.
How do you rate your chances of winning?
None to very slim due to past voting trends within the electorate. Our chances of securing a seat in the Senate appears much better, and improving every day. We have 12 House of Representatives and 6 Senate Representatives across our entire Stage 1 plan between Newcastle and Melbourne.
Can you tell us a little about your background and what skills you think you can bring to the role?
I have worked in both small and large business in tourism, warehousing, logistics, and customer service. I graduated from Newcastle University in 2000 and believe I have the ability to initiate, adapt, communicate and develop any task that is presented to me. I try to work smarter and harder and really enjoy challenges.
What do you think will be your biggest challenge in this election?
The biggest challenge is simply getting the message out that we exist as a party and everyone has an opportunity to vote for our high speed rail vision. We are a microcosmic party with no connections to any major party. We don’t have anywhere near the resources financially or personally of many other parties.
VIEWER QUESTION from SUE WOTTON: What are you intending to do about climate change? I don’t want to know about carbon taxes, or carbon trading -I want to know when there’s going to be mandatory solar power for each new built home. I want to know when coal is going to stop being stockpiled on Kooragang. And how all this will happen without further spending.
High speed trains are 8x more efficient than flying, 6x more efficient than driving and will reduce ever increasing CO2 emissions. The entire network could be powered by sustainable energies and this is something we will pursue in the planning process if elected. In Belgium they built a 2 km long tunnel that was covered entirely in solar panels allowing solar power to greatly aid in their rail energy requirements. Modern high speed trains have regenerative braking systems allowing 20-30% of energy to be put back into the system every single time they decelerate.
VIEWER QUESTION from : Do you think it is fair that some women are being discriminated against in the new parental leave proposal? Women who stay home with their children. Women who are on low wages. Also men and women who are employed by a very small business, maybe the only employee. These businesses cannot afford to have their only staff absent for so long, and also pay them for the privilege. Aren’t all the women of Australia worth the same?
Being a single issue party it is once again difficult to answer this most worthwhile question. High speed rail will allow for easy, fast and efficient travel for all people young and old. It certainly is a more friendly option for a mother with young children, as any parent who has traveled by air with little ones will know.
