2018-02-16
Roxanne Kennedy-Perriman takes some time out of her busy schedule to share her insights as Queensland's Volunteer Membership Convenor Assistant.
1. What do you remember about your first election?
It was an exciting time working on the Moggill campaign in the Queensland election, which removed the first term Newman government—remember that one? That was the atrocious, backward-thinking administration that, among other things, repealed land-clearing legislation and cut 14,000 public service jobs.
2. Endangered Australian animal who's captured your heart?
The koala.
3. What's your precious place and why?
It's been too long since I visited, but Mossman Gorge in the Daintree National Park in North Queensland. The memory of the feeling of the sheer natural beauty and sacredness of this place has left an indelible impression on me.
4. Favourite Greens policy?
Too hard to decide, but as well as our essential environmental policies, our policy to ban corruption in politics by calling for a federal corruption watchdog is right up there for me. The injustice and blatancy of those who hold power first and foremost looking after themselves and their mates (their political donors) above anything or anyone else really makes me very cross and cranky. I despair about the loss of justice and fairness for everyday Australians that results from this.
5. Best part of your work with the Greens?
Feeling inspired and energised by the wonderful people in our party. Their Greens values are on display for all to see, and they work so tirelessly towards improving our world and communicating Greens policies to our communities.
6. What keeps you going?
The quality and importance of Greens policies and the people who are equally committed to them—and who work so hard as volunteers to get those policies out there into the community.
7. Favourite political song?
I Am Woman by Helen Reddy.
8. Who inspires you? Why?
Single working parents with violent former partners who do their best to raise their kids and who are in increasingly difficult financial circumstances. I'm also inspired by Indigenous elders who are simultaneously doing all they can to hang on to their cultures and look after the kids in their communities.
9. Comfort food?
Hmmmm, that's a tough one—there are so many! Probably pasta.
10. What would you spend $20 billion on?
Educating third world women and making contraception freely available to them. This is the only real way I think we can address the planet's looming overpopulation problem.
11. Secret vice?
Playing online bridge. Boring, huh?
12. Best coffee/drink in town?
Mojito. Can't beat it at the end of a sultry, hot Brisbane summer day.
13. Three apps you can't live without?
ABC Listen, SBS On Demand, Google maps.
14. What did you want to be when you grew up?
At times a lawyer, at others an aesthetician.
15. Morning run or night time swim?
Night time swim.
16. What's your greatest hope for the future?
That the overheating of the planet will be arrested and the oceans get a chance to cool down so that the Great Barrier Reef can regenerate. And that Trump will be impeached. Sorry—too hard to stop at just one!
17. Magic wand to solve one world problem — what would it be?
Corruption, world peace, poverty—I'm greedy, too hard to choose just one.
18. What advice would you give a new volunteer?
Have fun, be respectful to everyone you encounter and expect the same in return. Have you thought about joining The Greens?
19. You can travel through time – where do you go?
Paris in the Belle Époque era.
20. If you weren't doing this for a living, what would you be doing?
Volunteering for another organisation whose values and goals align with The Greens.