‘Uphill battle’: Maranoa Greens candidate Elizabeth Johnston to tackle housing, health and grocery prices

Maranoa’s Greens candidate Elizabeth Johnston says she will campaign to stop supermarket price gouging, cap rental increases and make GP visits free during the upcoming election.

Maranoa’s Greens candidate Elizabeth Johnston admits she is fighting an uphill battle campaigning in an LNP stronghold, but says voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result was “foolhardy”.

One of Australia’s safest seats, Maranoa has been held by the Liberal National Party for all but three years since 1921 and without interruption since 1943, but Ms Johnston hopes she can sway a few votes with plans to make GP visits free, expand Medicare and make price gouging illegal.

A First Nations woman and retired social worker, Ms Johnston who now resides in Toowoomba was raised by her aunt and uncle in Duaringa, Central Queensland.

In 1960, at the age of 5, Ms Johnston was a survivor of the Medway Creek rail disaster where her uncle received the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct after saving several injured passengers.

Following his death, Ms Johnston was adopted by a local teacher growing up outside Brisbane as well as in regional Queensland later becoming a social worker, where she says she developed a sense of social justice.

“My early years of cultural connection to the land, traditional ways of knowing, and a sense of social justice with elder guidance and training have shaped who I am today,” she said.

“My life experiences and career has instilled in me a profound sense of social justice and concern for people who are struggling and need help.”

Ms Johnston said she believed everyone deserved food, a place to live, a good education and proper health care.

“Maranoa is experiencing a housing and cost of living crisis, with too many people struggling to pay for rent and put food on the table,” she said.

“The Greens’ plan to make supermarket price gouging illegal, will stop the big supermarkets from ripping us off and lower grocery prices.

“We will help those in housing stress by putting a cap on rent increases and delivering cheaper mortgages to people.

“We will fight to make sure GP visits are free and expand Medicare to include dental and mental health.”

Ms Johnston said she would bring “honesty and compassion” to the role.

“We will pay for our promises by making the big corporations and billionaires pay their fair share in tax,” she said.

“Unlike the major parties, we in the Greens don’t take corporate donations, so our policies are designed to help everyday people, not the rich and powerful.”

Ms Johnston said the Greens would offer Maranoa residents another option aside from the major parties.

“I do acknowledge it is an uphill battle to win the seat, but I also feel it’s important to give people the choice to vote for a progressive alternative to the major parties. We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result, we need a change,” she said.

“I felt it was important to run because the major parties are not adequately addressing the cost of living and housing crisis. The Coalition’s policies will take us backward, while Labor is just tinkering around the edges.

“We need the Greens in the Lower House and Senate to keep Dutton and the Coalition out, and to push Labor to act on the cost of living and housing crisis.”