General News
25 April, 2025
Candidates pitch themselves in Oakey
Six out of the eight candidates for Groom attended a Candidates Forum at the Oakey RSL last week.
Oakey Chamber of Commerce hosted the debate, which was chaired by former Chamber President Andrew Langton.
Independent candidate Suzie Holt, who this election, has the backing of the Climate 200 group, said it was time for change.
“Oakey represents everything I love - strong values and working together. Oakey deserves more - leadership that listens,” she said.
On the night, the independent candidate’s policy commitments to the district were an upgrade to Oakey Hospital, Centrelink access in Oakey, $1 million to fix Oakey RSL’s floors and a renewal for Campbell Street.
In response to a question from a West Prairie farmer, Ms Holt said she had over 200 amendments ready to go to protect farmland from coal seam gas.
When asked by an audience member about PFAS, Ms Holt said successive governments, Liberal and Labor had dropped the ball on supporting the community.
Liberal National candidate Garth Hamilton said his record was strong, and he would continue to engage with Heritage Bank to ensure services remained in Oakey.
When pressed on what he would do to make this happen, Mr Hamilton said that Australia needed to look at reducing the regulatory burden on smaller banks.
Mr Hamilton praised Oakey’s Australia Day event as being Region-leading and said he would fight to ensure its future.
“We need more Oakeys,” he said.
In response to his opponent Ms Holt’s critique of his party’s handling of the PFAS issue, Mr Hamilton said her words were a slight on his predecessor John McVeigh, who chaired the PFAS sub-committee.
One Nation candidate Rebecca Konz said that party’s major policy commitments would be
cutting red tape, and bringing farmland back into Australian hands. Ms Konz said her party would campaign strongly to protect the right to free speech.
Independent candidate Kirstie Smolenski said big money needed to be kept out of politics so that vested interests did not hold sway. Ms Smolenski said structural reform was needed in the Australian job sector, where a shortfall of employees was seeing Governments rely on immigration to fill the gap.
Greens candidate Alyce Nelligan said her party would lobby for dental, Mental Health, and GP appointments to be fully funded by Medicare. When asked about her party’s energy policy, Ms Nelligan said the focus for the future needed to be on solar power and battery banks.
Family First candidate Alexandra Todd said Australia’s culture was in steep decline. Ms Todd said her party believed life began at conception and that gender ideology needed to be kept out of the National Curriculum.
Labor candidate Richard Edwards was a late withdrawal and recent nominee from the Trumpet of Patriots Jamie Marr did not attend.
Mr Marr is the son of longtime Zimms Corner owner-operator Olga Marr.
