Illawarra Greens. Social justice, environmental sustainability, peace and non-violence and grassroots democracy.

Cath Blakey for Wollongong

I am so proud to be standing as your Greens state candidate for Wollongong. I was born on Dharawal Country, in Wollongong Hospital. I attended Mount Saint Thomas Primary School, Wollongong High School and studying environmental science at the University of Wollongong. I have worked in waste education, water management, nature conservation, local government, and co-operative business.

Since 2017 I have served as a Councillor on Wollongong City advocating for community services and environmentally sustainable development.

As a Councillor I am proud of our communities’ actions to reduce waste by embracing FOGO. I have championed the expansion of the footpath network, improved cycling connections and better rail and bus services. I am proud that in 2019 Wollongong City declared a climate emergency and started implementing practical solutions for emissions reductions.

I have spoken out against coal mining under our drinking water catchment, highlighting that water security, koala habitat and intact fire-resistant swamps are more important for our community prosperity.

I am a supporter of Australian manufacturing, pushing the state government to mandate Australian-made content in their procurement policy, and supporting increased local business weighting in Council procurement. The Port Kembla Steelworks is the biggest source of emissions in Wollongong, and finding a pathways to replace coal with other reducing agents is an opportunity to be a technological leader. I’ve challenged the steelworks dependence on Illawarra coal, and heartened by recent upgrades to the bulk handling terminal to import coal from other sources.

I have stood with the Aboriginal community when it came to recognising and protecting the cultural landscape and sites of significance.

As an environmental science graduate I know there are technical solutions to our environmental problems, we just need politicians in state parliament that act in the public interest of our shared planet. As an MP I will continue the push for donations reform to get dirty money out of politics.

No matter which party wins government in 2023, I will hold them to account and push them further and faster on housing affordability, climate action, integrity in government and equality for all.

I have a track record of cross-party collaboration for the best outcome for our community. Wollongong has been taken for granted for too long. Supporting the Greens will make sure Wollongong becomes a marginal seat, and gets the investment and opportunity our community needs.

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