NSW Election: Bankstown candidate Rooney pushes pill testing at music festivals
Just weeks out from the upcoming NSW Election, Bankstown’s Greens candidate James Rooney has made himself clear that he wants pill testing to be introduced at music festivals.
The Express
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Banktown’s Greens candidate James Rooney wants pill testing to be introduced at music festivals — going against the NSW Government’s stance — following the five deaths in recent music festivals.
Mr Rooney said he was a strong advocate for reform of drug policies, including the introduction of pill testing at music festivals.
“Prohibition doesn’t work. We have known this for close to 100 years,” the 53-year-old said.
“It drives the problem underground, funnels billions of dollars into organised crime, corrupts the police force, the judiciary and the political system as well as causing massive harm to the fabric of society.
“Drug use is a medical problem, not a criminal one.
“The Greens support the call of the best medical experts in the country for the introduction of a policy of harm minimisation.”
The Bass Hill father of two is also against the overdevelopment in the area and prefers the south west Metro to go underground in Bankstown.
Mr Rooney said it would, however, take time to woo the voters away from the traditional Labor seat.
He is passionate about environmental issues as well, along with social justice and the need for quick action on climate change.
“It is a big challenge for the Greens in a safe Labor seat but I believe the electorate is slowing turning with the Greens seen as a real alternative,” he said.
“It is not going to happen overnight because it will certainly take time.”
A history teacher by profession, Mr Rooney tried his hand at the last local government elections and is keen to make a difference.
He is married to fellow teacher Liesa, with whom he has two sons, Jackson and Lachlan.
On the government’s Sydenham to Bankstown Urban Renewal Strategy which could see the addition of 100 000 new residents, Mr Rooney said: “This plan puts the interests of property developers ahead of local residents.
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“Locals are opposed to overdevelopment and are concerned about the lack of appropriate infrastructure to support the forecast population growth.
“Rather than erecting endless rows of skyscrapers, we should be planning and building liveable cities on a human scale — taking into account carbon footprint, overshadowing of neighbours and the impact on existing schools, roads and hospitals.
“The Greens are committed to creating liveable cities with substantial open green spaces, an extensive urban canopy, high quality infrastructure and facilities including integrated walking and cycling tracks.
“We must transition away from fossil fuels to renewables and we need to do it urgently.
“With the political will, the transition to renewables could be done in a dozen years. Unfortunately, we are currently being held to ransom by lobby groups and the fossil fuel industry.”
Mr Rooney said economic inequality in Australia was also growing by the year and is calling for an end to political donations “that are corrupting the democratic system”.
“The Labor and Liberal parties have both been corrupted by their desire for power above all else, and their policies are heavily influenced by the special interests of political donors,” Mr Rooney said.
“By contrast, the Greens is a grassroots party that involves ordinary people in decision-making and represents those without money or power.”