Michael Baldock Structural Engineer Michael Baldock is the Greens candidate for Vasse in the coming State Election. Michael lives with his wife Kate and two children in Dunsborough. The effects of urban growth and climate change on the character and unique natural environment of the Capes area has motivated Michael to stand for the Greens and support Giz Watson's bid to win a South West upper house seat. Michael has seen that services such as education and aged care have not kept pace with population growth in the Busselton region and that growth for growths sake is impacting our agricultural land, our water resources and is now resulting in development of local Class A reserves. Michael grew up in the Yallingup area. After attending Dunsborough Primary School and Busselton Senior High School, Michael completed a Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Western Australia. After receiving a Clough Scholarship, Michael continued on to work for Clough Engineering in their Offshore Engineering division being involved in projects in Asia and Europe. Michael returned home to take up a position with the local Busselton structural engineering consultants Cotan Engineering where he has worked for the last 15 years. During this period Michael has been involved with the design and engineering of residences, commercial buildings and government projects throughout the South West. For the last four years, Michael has been president of the Dunsborough Primary School P&C; Association and supported the school's sustainability focus. One example being the P&C; canteen which has replaced pre-packaged meals with food prepared and cooked in the canteen using local produce including from the schools own vegie garden and chicken run. Michael has always had a passion for sport particularly football as player and coach, and distance running as a member of the Australia 100km team at the 2009 Commonwealth and World Championships. To contact Michael to invite him to come and meet with you or your group or to let him know about your hopes and concerns for Vasse: Email: michaelbaldock1@gmail.com Mobile: 0403 386 250 Giz Watson Giz Watson is the lead candidate for the Greens in the South West and has been a Member of Parliament for the Greens since 1997. She has a degree in Environmental Science as well a Trade Certificate in carpentry and joinery, and a Builder's registration. Her passion for ecology, peace and social justice led her to be a community activist for a range of causes such as protecting our forests; advocating for community housing; opposing the arms trade; and advocating for gay and lesbian rights. In 2011, Giz was recognised amongst 100 "Women of the Century" for her work in parliament and in the gay and lesbian community, and she was inducted into the WA Women's Hall of Fame. Background As early as the 1970s, Giz was active in the first direct action campaign in WA against clear felling of jarrah forests for bauxite mining. She also has been at the forefront of the campaign to prevent uranium mining in this State, twice introducing legislation to ban uranium mining into the State Parliament. Giz's story is told in this short biography. http://greens4southwest.org.au/sites/default/files/giz%20watson%20biography.pdf A hard-working Member of Parliament In Parliament, Giz is the Greens' spokesperson on justice issues, defending the rule of law and civil liberties. She also chairs the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations which deals with matters relating to the financial administration of the State, as well as the budget estimates. The protection of WA's remaining native forests and woodlands is a major focus in Giz's work, and she has voiced her concerns about the impact of declining rainfall on the ecological health of these systems. She has been a strong supporter of the fight against coal mining in Margaret River and currently has a Private Member's Bill before Parliament to amend the Mining Act 1978. The Bill seeks to prevent mining leases from being granted if they do not comply with local planning schemes.

• published: 01 Mar 2013
• views: 66