Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, we are continuing our discussions with the mayoral candidates
for Darwin now, doing our best to get through as
many of the candidates as we can around the top
end over the coming days and over the previous week.
But continuing with Darwin this morning and joining us live
on the line is Andrew Arthur. Good morning to you, Andrew.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Good to have you on the show. Andrew. You've got
six minutes and a series of questions. Are you ready
to get started? Let's do it all right, Andrew? Why
have you decided to put your hand up to be
the mayor?
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Well, I believe Darwin's got incredible potential and I believe
I can help unlease this by working with our elected
members and providing providing us all with a safer affair
and smart Darwin.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Now, Andrew, in terms of qualifications and work experience, qualifications
of work experience do you have would you think make
you best placed for the job.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
I've been in Darwen thirty five years. I've been running
a small business, so I've employed people. I know how
difficult it is to run a business in Darwen. We're
quite isolated. But also there's positives. There's a lot of positives.
(01:28):
We're extremely close to Asia where we're central to the
whole top end with products and services. So Darwin's in
a great position to grow and I've been a part
of that business SCEAM for thirty five years the previous council,
(01:51):
not this current council. I was in the previous council
as an elected member and we did a lot of
great things for the commune. I started up as a
founding member of the Karama Community Garden, which is in
Robin Leslie Park, a high risk zone, and we activated
(02:13):
that space. Every Saturday, Robin Leslie Park is activated. And
you know, pardon me. I've had a good education. I
was lucky enough to go to university under the old
(02:34):
GoF Whitlam rules where university was available to everybody, and
studied Bachelor of Science in ecology. So I'm embedded in
the Darwin community and I want to help contribute to
our future.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Andrew, what do you see as the most important issues
for Darwin and for the council.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
All the councils. It's the third tier of government. It's
grassroots and I think this current council they haven't been
listening to the people. They haven't been able to get
out and talk to the people. They haven't consulted properly,
and I'd like to change that around. I think we
(03:27):
need more transparency in that grassroots level of government, and
we need more community input. I think back in two
thousand and nineteen, the council did a greening strategy and
(03:47):
it was a lot of work was done and we
discovered that Darwin has only got seventeen percent shade on
its footpaths and streets, and cities like Brisbane they have
sixty percent shade. And so I was able to ask
the question how many shade trees do we need to
(04:09):
plant to reach sixty percent shade and that answer come
back at two hundred and fifty thousand shade trees. It's
a massive job. It's a big job. But if you
look at places, you know when aale parama karama, you
know a lot of our streets and footpaths are devoided
(04:32):
of shade. So we really need to step up and
start planting shade trees.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Andrew, we've got about two minutes left. What are your
top three commitments to voters? It sounds like greening the
place is certainly one of them.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Yes, Well, I'd have to reconsider this twenty one story
civic centered development if there's a way we can renegotiate
that contract. They haven't started, they've fenced it off, but
the works haven't started. I'd really like to see a
(05:12):
renegotiation of that building down to maybe three stories, which
is more compatible with those heritage buildings like Browns Mart
and the Civic Park area. I'd like to start getting
more led lighting smart lighting into our walkways. Walkways are
(05:34):
a hot spot for anti social behavior, and Council is
constantly inundated with complaints of that nature and people wanting
to close the walkways. I mean, walkways are really important
for the connectivity of our northern suburbs, so to close
them all together it makes it difficult for pedestrians. But
(05:59):
if we get some smart lighting into those walkways, that
that should reduce that anti social behavior. Lighting in our ovals,
in our parks, and especially our playgrounds. Smart lighting in
our playgrounds. So if anyone comes in at night, sang
the lights are on.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Yes, Andrew, We've got about fifteen seconds left. Are you
a member of a political party or have you ever been?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
No, never been a member, never.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Been a member. Now who in terms of preferences, can
you explain to us quickly who you're preferencing.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
I'm saying a number in every box. We'll need to
do their own research. Number one for Andrew John Arthur
and all right.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
And so you're letting other people decide who they'll preference.
You don't have a how to vote card or anything.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
No, I don't. I've just got a little piece of
information on who I am in my policies.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Not fair enough. Well, Andrew Arthur, good to speak to
you this morning. Really appreciate your time. Thanks for being
part of our Meet the candidates.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Oh thank you, Katie and listeners, thanks so much