Qld election 2020: Amy MacMahon won’t rule out activism
Newly elected Greens Member for South Brisbane Amy MacMahon hasn’t ruled out the same approach that has made her fellow inner-city representative Jonathan Sri a controversial figure.
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The Greens’ giant-slayer in South Brisbane doesn’t believe becoming an MP will stop her from joining protests.
Amy MacMahon yesterday hit out at the Labor Government for introducing laws that cracked down on protesters, but would not be drawn on whether she supported the protesters’ traffic-disrupting tactics.
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“I think regardless of what you think about particular approaches that groups like (Extinction Rebellion) might take, that groups like the refugee protesters might take, the core of the issue here is a political system that is no longer listening to people,” she said.
“I don’t have any particular opinion on their tactics. I think what’s more important is that these people aren’t being listened to.”
Ms MacMahon made history on Saturday as the second Greens to win a seat in State Parliament, as she ousted former deputy premier Jackie Trad as member for South Brisbane.
She yesterday said the pair had been playing a “little bit of phone tag”, but she was hopeful of reaching her later in the day.
Asked how she would be a different local MP to Ms Trad, Ms MacMahon said her party’s approach to politics was about talking to people face-to-face.
She also said she was looking forward to working with well-known local Greens councillor Jonathan Sri – himself an active protest organiser – to “get some really good work done”.
The LNP decided to preference Ms MacMahon ahead of Ms Trad, but the Greens believe they still would have won the seat without that decision – something Labor is disputing.
“Our win here is a result of more people than ever putting the Greens first,” Ms MacMahon said.
“That’s because people have been so excited about the vision that we have been offering.”
Originally published as Qld election 2020: Amy MacMahon won’t rule out activism