Adelaide City councillor Robert Simms to nominate for state Greens Upper House spot
Adelaide City Councillor Robert Simms has announced he will nominate for preselection to take over from Green MLC Mark Parnell when he retires at the next State Election.
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Adelaide City Councillor and former SA Senator Robert Simms has announced a bid to take over from outgoing Greens MLC Mark Parnell.
Mr Simms, 36, of Adelaide, said he would seek to be lead candidate on the Greens Legislative Council ticket for the 2022 State Election when preselection nominations open later this year.
Mr Parnell, who in 2006 became the first Greens candidate to be elected in the South Australian Parliament, announced last week that he would not contest the next state election.
Mr Simms said 2022 represented “an exciting opportunity to grow our party and our movement”.
“If we elect two MLCs we could secure the balance of power in our state’s upper house for the first time,” he said.
“Together we could change SA politics. And change in our state is desperately needed.”
Mr Smms said he had a proven track record of standing up for people and the planet.
“The coronavirus pandemic has exposed the growing gap between rich and poor,” he said.in a statement.
“Business as usual is failing the most vulnerable in our community and destroying our environment.
“The Greens’ plan to tackle the climate crisis, end homelessness, strengthen renters rights and protect our vital public services has never been more important – SA is ready for a Green New Deal”.
Mr Simms first served as an Adelaide City Councillor from 2014 to 2015 and was returned at the 2018 Local Government elections.
He was a Greens member of the Senate from September 2015 until he was defeated at the 2016 Federal Election.