2021-01-22
2020 was a huge year for the Greens around the country – particularly in the ACT, where we tripled our representation in the Assembly at the October election. In the next installment of our series that introduces our newest MPs, we speak to Member for Ginninderra Jo Clay.
1. What do you remember about your first election?
I had an amazing crew of volunteers campaigning their hearts out, and a really talented team putting together policy and campaign. It was a very professional effort (albeit hard work with elements of chaos!).
2. Endangered Australian animal that's captured your heart?
Mountain pygmy possum. Declining snow and poor land management means they may have nowhere to go soon.
3. What’s your precious place and why?
Broulee Beach. I used to travel overseas a lot, then realised how bad flying was for the planet. I swapped my snowboard for a surfboard and now I swim, kayak, snorkel and surf 2 1/2 hours from my house and have more fun than I ever did backpacking around the world.
4. Favourite Greens policy?
100% renewable electricity. It’s essential for the climate, it’s an enormous shift from business as usual and we actually got it into place in the ACT. Now we have greener power than any other state and it’s the second-cheapest in the country too. This is how to make real change.
5. Best part of your work with the Greens?
Contributing to solutions, not sticking my head in the sand and hoping someone else will fix them.
6. What keeps you going?
My daughter. She’s six. I want her future to be as good as my past.
7. Favourite political song?
Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil (I’m pretty old).
8. Who inspires you? Why?
School strikers. They are so strong and so clear. If we had school strikers in charge now, we'd have a completely different world tomorrow.
9. Comfort food?
Is red wine a food?
10. What would you spend $20 billion on?
Decarbonise the economy and make full employment with all the new opportunities that come with that.
11. Secret vice?
I think I already said it...
12. Best coffee/drink in town?
I make my own. My brain exploded from the ethical dilemmas of keepcuppapercupfairtradecowmilkalmondmilksoymilk blah.
13. Three apps you can’t live without?
ABC News, calendar, and (sadly) Fires Near Me.
14. What did you want to be when you grew up?
I had a mug with my star sign on it that listed jobs suitable for me: writer, artist, politician, entrepreneur, lawyer, philanthropist. I’ve checked them all off so far.
15. Morning run or night time swim?
Night time swim.
16. What’s your greatest hope for the future?
We live in circles not lines. Doughnut economics and circular economies – let’s move beyond ‘make line go up’ and come up with something actually sustainable.
17. Magic wand to solve one world problem — what would it be?
Climate change
18. What advice would you give a new volunteer?
Ask questions and have fun! It’s a big friendly mob with a lot of different views, and we need everyone’s unique view :)
19. You can travel through time – where do you go?
1920s New Zealand (I assume it does all dimensions). Just cos.
20. If you weren’t doing this for a living, what would you be doing?
Writing a book about my two-year carbon diet and taking my recycling company on to its next stage of development.