Therese Doyle is the Greens candidate for the seat of Shortland at this year’s federal election.
Therese has won public office before, having served as a Greens councillor on Concord Council in Sydney from 1995 to 2000 and Newcastle City Council from 2012 to 2017. She will now challenge Labor incumbent Pat Conroy in Shortland.
“I will be a fierce advocate for Shortland residents’ rights to a decent standard of living and a healthy environment, along with urgently needed public services such as housing, healthcare and free public education, which should be available for everyone in a wealthy country like Australia,” said Therese.
Stronger public services
Therese calls for a decisive shift in federal government priorities away from privileged private interests and towards urgently needed public services.
“Australians need equal access to free, high-quality public education, healthcare and housing. These are basic obligations of the government, yet Labor and the Coalition prefer to rely on the private sector and “market forces” to provide services. It’s an approach that has left an ever-widening gap between those can pay and those who can’t. This market-based approach has created the twin crises in cost of living and housing affordability.”
“As a Greens councillor for many years I worked on urban renewal with local community groups and council committees to uphold residents’ rights and needs over developers’ profits. I am ready to do so again in Shortland.”
“A vote for The Greens in Shortland is a vote for essential services like housing, healthcare and education to be publicly owned and run for the benefit of all, not just a privileged few.”
Environmental and global safety
The Greens campaign for environmental safety is strongly linked with the need for international peace to support climate action.
“2024 was officially the Earth’s hottest year on record. We need urgent climate action to prevent disastrous bushfires, floods, and widespread extinctions caused by global warming,” said Therese.
“Like the rest of the Hunter region, Shortland needs right now a fully costed economic plan to ensure a just transition for workers out of fossil fuel industries. The Greens will achieve this by fast tracking renewable energy projects that create new, secure, well-paid jobs.”
Greens uphold Peace and International Human Rights
“But all these public benefits depend also on a peaceful international environment. Unfortunately, both the Albanese Labor government and the Coalition have prioritised military expenditure over social needs, looking to waste billions on non-existent AUKUS nuclear submarines without any public scrutiny or discussion.”
“The Greens would return this money to projects of public benefit including schools, hospitals, and renewable energy projects, instead of US military contractors,” said Therese.
Minister Conroy has failed to secure Australia’s peaceful reputation
“Labor and Coalition policies only contribute to global tensions, risking the environment, a peaceful world, and Australia’s reputation internationally,” said Therese.
“The current ALP member for Shortland, Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industries, prioritises arms expenditure over peaceful diplomacy with our Asian and Pacific neighbours.”
“Mr Conroy also supports continued military cooperation with Israel, thereby risking Australia’s international standing and making us complicit in Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza, actions which are now before the International Court of Justice.”
“As a minister, Mr Conroy has failed to uphold our obligations under international law to suspend defence industry partnerships with Israel in the current circumstances, risking Australia’s peaceful reputation.”
Success in public roles
A career-long public educator in science and professional development, Therese has a long-standing commitment to social justice and environmental protection, exemplified by her record as a local government councillor.
Therese was a Greens councillor on Concord City Council for five years,1995 to 2000, and deputy Mayor in 1999, before moving from Sydney with her husband and two daughters in 2002. Therese went on to win election to Newcastle City Council from 2012 to 2017.
As a Newcastle Greens councillor, Therese gained a reputation for integrity, reliability and standing up for residents’ rights. She vigorously opposed unsuitable and unsustainable high-rise towers in Newcastle’s CBD. Therese championed retaining and improving rail services, the Art Gallery, the Community Arts Centre, youth facilities and urban forest. As chair of Council’s Cycleways Advisory Committee she promoted a network of cycleways for Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.
“I will bring my career-long commitment to social and environmental justice to work tirelessly for a fairer, healthier community here in Shortland, and make sure their voices are heard,” declared Therese.
