Jim Fagan
The first thing you see when you walk into Sandy Bolton’s electoral office at Noosa Civic is a colourful Noosa Biosphere tapestry by quilters, Patches of Cooroy. Look around some more and you’ll see the walls are filled with paintings by local artists of local scenes and personalities.
In her office a whiteboard is scrawled in black pen with issues demanding various actions under headings such as Housing, Education, Transport, Environment, TAFE, Public Service Improvements, with a swathe of acronyms such as IEPA and tracking of reviews, and much more.
I ask her how many ‘jobs’ she has on the go and the answer is “about 50”.
Sandy’s love of her community is on show as is, clearly, her desire to protect and improve the core values of Noosa, its people and environment.
“Everything and everyone has a story,” she says.
I met Sandy to ask her if she is again standing as an Independent in the State elections next year in October as, even though it’s more than a year away, Mayor Clare Stewart has announced she is the Noosa candidate for the Liberal National Party.
Sandy’s answer is a resounding yes.
“As an independent in the State Parliament, and still the only one, I work with both sides of the Chamber in a non-combative, productive way to get the best results for Noosa, without the worry about the wishes of a party.
“Another benefit is the freedom of not needing to align with or preach party policy. The only policy I’m preaching is the Noosa policy.”
She laughs: “I have the biggest party of all with a lot of diverse factions!”
This year is Sandy’s 10th anniversary of entering politics. Following Noosa’s vote for deamalgamation in 2013, she was the only woman on the inaugural Noosa Council of the seven-member authority. She admits she was “assertive” and that this could have been interpreted as giving the then Mayor, Noel Playford, a bit of a hard time.
“Noel and I had a relationship that saw us in some vibrant debate as we had very different viewpoints, however, it was never personal. Once I became an MP– and the only female on the crossbench—I continued to experience respect, even among some very spirited and opposing debates.”
Did being on the council create a desire to become an MP?
“I had no intent at the time to enter state politics, just to represent this community as best as I could as a councillor. In March 2016, however, at the next election, I contested the mayoralty and was pipped by Tony Wellington.
“Afterwards everybody kept asking me to run in the state election as they said they wanted someone with integrity and transparency to be able to go and fight for Noosa. It was only at the last minute that I made the decision, and how thankful I am that I did.
“Look what we have achieved so far. Noosa suits being independent, hence why I will be fighting to keep it that way.
“I am not a career politician, just a committed 35-year resident who is passionate and very much in love with our home and its people, as well our other inhabitants!”
Sandy (59) has a background in rural property management, tourism, agriculture, sport coordination, disabilities and social services. She is a graduate of Queensland Central University and has a degree in social innovation.
“The diversity of my experience has been of enormous assistance in my role, especially the grassroots knowledge gained in different industries and businesses.
“One example when I first became an MP was the lack of transport to Sunshine Coast University Hospital for those not eligible for assistance. I was told we needed an extra bus service but when I looked at the issue, these residents were really vulnerable, and needed a door-to-door service, not to travel up to two hours then spend all day at the hospital until the bus returned.
“Out of our office funds we paid for a pilot with Be Connect, with the assistance of fabulous Noosa volunteers. This provided the service, as well as data needed to demonstrate to government how the issue could be resolved effectively at a much more economical cost than running an extra bus.
“The result is that now those who fall between the gaps have a vital service subsidised by government.
“Being an MP is much more than a job. It is a driving desire and passion to deliver to our residents a way to make things better in the now and for the future.”
I asked: “As an independent how do you go about your work, say, if you need 20 million dollars for something like you did for the Cooroy-Noosa/Beckman’s Road intersection?”
“It is all about building the case with clarity and demonstrating the need. It is hard work, with many processes along the way, including backing up the case with facts and the reality being experienced by our communities.
“Sometimes that involves requesting those that have data and evidence, such as the police and the Department of Main Roads, to walk a site as we did with Six Mile Bridge. This to show that even with extra warning signs, incidents were still happening, and the reasons why were not apparent until you spend time analysing on site.
“Effective advocacy is about being credible, factual and persistent. It is not about making emotive statements, throwing rocks via media grabs to get a response, and definitely not crying wolf. The results speak for themselves with Beckman’s stage one now completed, Six Mile Bridge well under way and a host of others at announcement stage.”
I asked: “In the last election in 2020 you received a 12.5 per cent increase in the number of people voting for you. How did you feel about that?”
“I always feel gratitude for every vote and very privileged to work alongside my community every day. You become so focused on the work you are doing that you don’t think that anybody else is seeing this work as the majority is behind the scenes, late at night.
“The increase may have been because our residents saw the work and actual results. That my commitments were not just words or dangling of carrots. They were real actions. That I was transparent and upfront, ready to negotiate calmly and deal with the frustrations of delays outside my control, instead of dragging others down or engaging in blame.
“Residents saw that I never give up, even if something takes years of slog. Perhaps, when I first stood for state in 2016 there were many more that listened to the politicking and assertion that an independent MP can’t get anything done.
“And then by 2020, that may have changed to ‘Oh, my goodness, independents can get things done!’ As our community becomes more knowledgeable, much of the misinformation that permeates politics dissipates.
“I spend a lot of time researching issues, and explaining in layman’s terms how things work as some issues we deal with are complex. Seeking what our community feels on different topics is part of the journey of getting to what we call a Noosa position, which is always fascinating because, of course, there are at times totally opposing viewpoints.
“Sometimes that journey is long with many parts, including delivering messages that I do not like. These, however, become part of the fight to get to the change sought.”
I asked: “How would you describe yourself?”
“That is a hard question as how others see us can be very different to how we see ourselves! I’d say, tenacious, I never give up. Resilient, as I come from a long lineage of hardship. Extremely passionate in terms of my love of people, even those who have been a bit naughty over the last decade!
“Fierce loyalty to our community, which I consider family. It has my commitment through and through, and I am enormously protective of them.”
Sandy demonstrates everyday aspects not normally attributable to a politician, including ensuring no resident sleeps rough.
“If people come to me, we can assist through multiple channels. If for any reason there is a problem, say, when resorts are full on a weekend, I take them home with me and ensure they are safe until our agencies open on Monday.”
So, what is coming up for Noosa?
Sandy says a great deal with a current focus on the draft SEQ Regional Plan, and to expect several important announcements in the coming weeks, including the long-awaited changes to the river management.
“It’s been a long journey for everyone. Both legislative and policy changes have been needed to resolve some of the issues that have frustrated our community such as mooring and anchoring, speed and conflicts between users.
“We have been fortunate that we haven’t had a real tragedy, and even though there may be those not 100 per cent happy with some of the changes, the consultation undertaken was extensive, including nearly two years via the Noosa River Advisory Group, which was a first for Queensland.
“Like all efforts that take years to effect, I look forward to ticking this off my commitments list, as I will with that decommissioned TAFE which, as I have said multiple times, I could write a book about.”
