Footballer Blair Brownless makes a run for Upper House

Former footballer Blair Brownless wants to tackle some of the state’s biggest issues head on, and is running as an independent in the Upper House to get the chance.

Blair Brownless is trying his hand at politics and is pictured at Kingston Beach. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

FORMER footballer and educator Blair Brownless is throwing his hat into the political ring, ready to tackle traffic congestion and long hospital waits.

The brother of AFL great Billy Brownless will run as an independent candidate in the Legislative Council seat of Nelson in the May 2019 election.

The teacher and sports commentator said the area south of Hobart should consider commuter ferries on the River Derwent, a satellite Royal Hobart Hospital at Kingston and stronger links between industry and schools.

Mr Brownless, renowned for his own football career with Clarence, said he was committed to protecting Tasmania’s way of life but also saw the need to balance that with jobs and economic growth.

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“I’m passionate about making Nelson a better place to live, work and play, so I want to see improvements in health, education and transport,” he said.

The Upper House seat of Nelson includes many suburbs south of Hobart affected by increasing traffic congestion, including South Hobart, Sandy Bay, Taroona and Kingston.

Mr Brownless backed a ferry service to ease traffic, which would not only reduce the peak-hour bottleneck on the Southern Outlet but attract people to Kingston Beach and its restaurants.

“I would love to see a situation where people didn’t just get the ferry to go to town, but people caught the ferry to Kingston because of the Salty Dog hotel and the restaurant strip,” he said.

“It’s not just about getting into the city … we need to attract people to Kingston and that would be a great way to get them there,” he said.

He is also open-minded about a cable car.

“I believe a cable car to Mt Wellington has the potential to add to the amenity of Hobart, but we must ensure that appropriate checks and balances are put in place,” he said.

Mr Brownless lives outside of the electorate, at Seven Mile Beach, but said he had lived all over Hobart and was prepared to spend as much time as possible in Nelson. He said the congestion at the Royal Hobart Hospital, particularly in the emergency department, could possibly be eased with a satellite hospital at Kingston.

“It could be a triage facility that takes less urgent cases while the more urgent cases go to the Royal,” he said.

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Mr Brownless grew up in country NSW and moved to Hobart in 1989 at the age of 20, playing for Clarence until 1997. He won three premierships and was best and fairest in 1992.

Since retiring from football, he has been a regular commentator and presenter of AFL, while also working for the AFL, Australian Sports Commission and the Department of Education.

He is also a teacher and is currently a director at Guilford Young College in Hobart.

Retiring member for Nelson, independent Jim Wilkinson, said he wanted to see another independent take over from him.