2017-04-02
Rosanne Bersten
Alison is 47, was convenor of the Australian Greens from 2007 to 2008 and then represented the East Metropolitan region in the WA State Parliament from 2008 to 2013. Her work as an advocate for mental health and suicide prevention has been invaluable — she has been President of the WA Association for Mental Health, the Vice-Chair of Community Mental Health Australia, and sits on the Board of Mental Health Australia. In the recent WA State Election, she was once again elected to the WA State Parliament — this time for the North Metropolitan Region.
1. What do you remember about your first election?
I was a teenager. I was concerned about the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the Cold War. I was impressed by this woman called Jo Vallentine who made a lot of sense and spoke with an enormous degree of compassion. I was too young to vote but not too young to want to be involved. This was the path that lead me to the Greens when they formed in WA.
2. Endangered Australian animal who has captured your heart?
I like frogs. Frogs make me happy. The noisier the better.
3. Whats your precious place and why?
The Cultural Centre in Perth. Because it is Art and Culture and an artificial wetland and an urban orchard and fun and humans of all ages from all backgrounds just hanging out and getting along, sometimes with their dogs. And Exmouth — if you've been there you know why.
4. Favourite Greens policy?
Too many to list. I am a four pillars kind of gal.
5. Best part of your work with the Greens?
I have been a member since 1990 so there is a lot to look back on including having been the Australian Greens National Convenor. But it is certainly an enormous privilege to be a Greens Member of Parliament. And not something I could ever have envisaged back in the 90s as a young dreadlocked activist.
6. What keeps you going?
On a personal level, the support of my husband Luke and my kids. Politically, a need to create a better world, and needing to do meaningful work. And admittedly sometimes anger at the injustice and short-sightedness of it all.
7. Favourite political song?
I like all things Billy Bragg. "There is Power in a Union" never fails to inspire. "Blow Up the Pokies" by the Whitlams. "Perfect Place" by Voice of the Beehive.
8. Who inspires you? Why?
I do a lot of work with people who have endured enormous hardship, trauma and suffering. The capacity of people to turn their own damage into life-changing work for others never fails to inspire me. That is what courage is, and these are the people who inspire me all the time.
9. Comfort food?
Chips. But truth be told I don't do comfort eating.
10. What would you spend $20 billion on?
A world-class mental health system. Or maybe training. Or renewable energy. Or invest in our Community Legal Centres. Or housing. Or light rail. So many things.
11. Secret vice?
I like a nice wine, but I don't think that is much of a secret. Or a vice for that matter.
12. Best coffee/drink in town?
Nothing like a good cup of tea.
13. Apps you cant live without?
I can live without any apps. It's amazing, I know.
14. What did you want to be when you grew up?
A vet. Or Olivia Newton-John.
15. Morning run or night time swim?
Morning run absolutely. If I did a night time swim I would sink.
16. Whats your greatest hope for the future?
That we make the transition to a carbon-free, jobs-rich future where people receive the services and education they need and where we uphold the human rights of all. And if we could stop trashing the planet that would be great.
17. Magic wand to solve one world problem — what would it be?
Poverty. (And also Climate Change). (And get rid of the entire nuclear cycle). (And childhood trauma and abuse.....)
18. What advice would you give a new volunteer?
Get involved in your Regional Group. Be prepared to ask questions. Be critical in your thinking. Listen to a wide variety of views. Make lots of friends from across the party and reject cliques. Treasure decentralised participatory democracy, it is what makes our party special. Remember we are all in this together.
19. You can travel through time — where do you go?
Back to 1980. I would beg my Dad to decide to live.
20. If you werent doing this for a living, what would you be doing?
Mental health and suicide prevention advocacy and human rights law.