By JONATHON HOWARD
SUNSHINE Coast paramedic Mark Denham says he’s ready to take on LNP member for Noosa Glen Elmes for the seat of Noosa after he was named the Labor candidate to contest the seat in next year’s State Government election.
Mr Denham said he has an up-hill battle in the historically LNP stronghold of Noosa, but he was up for the task and feels change is in the wind.
“The Sunshine Coast has always been an LNP stronghold and I think it needed a bit more of a voice, so I put my hand up,” he said.
Mr Denham has been a paramedic for the past 35 years including 10 years as a paramedic in Noosa.
He lives in Cooroibah and, along with his wife, has raised four children who attended Tewantin State School and Sunshine Beach High.
If elected in the state election next year, likely to be in March, Mr Denham said improving road infrastructure and allied health were at the top of his to-do list.
“Roads are always an issue coming in and out of Noosa they require a lot of upkeep,” he said.
“Hospitals, with an ageing population, infrastructure around assistance to older people need to be enhanced in our area.”
Mr Denham said residents were fed up with LNP premier Campbell Newman and voters were seeking change.
“Strong Choices was a joke – to ignore the people’s choice not to sell assets was misguided and Newman will pay for it,” he said.
Mr Denham spoke highly of current Noosa MP Glen Elmes, but said he was ready to battle him on policy.
“It’s not personal thing between Glen and I, I actually acknowledge Glen’s hardwork in the community, but it’s about policy and that’s where I plan to make my campagin felt the most,” he said.
“I think closing of the Tewantin TAFE was a bad move and the job market in Noosa is also in desparate need of reviewing,” he said.
Mr Denham said he has witnessed the casualisation of Noosa’s workforce and hoped to turn the tide on Noosa’s ailing job market.
Mr Elmes received 60.59 per cent of the primary vote in the 2012 State Government election, with his nearest rival Greens party member Jim McDonald with 15.51 per cent, followed by ALP candidate Kurt Hopkins with 12.44 per cent.
Have your say: Who are you supporting in the next State Government election? Email: newsdesk@noosatoday.net.au
