Speech at Newcastle By-election forum

This is my 2 minute speech to the candidates' forum tonight.
You can hear it plus responses to questions I'm on at the 44 minutes and
summing up at 1 hour 10 mins. 30 s, and The Newcastle Herald  reported some of my responses to questions:

Socialist Alliance acknowledges the ongoing sovereignty of Aboriginal people over these lands and pays our respects to Elders, past and present including the children of today who are the elders of tomorrow.
I’m convinced that there are just and workable alternatives to neo-liberal capitalism that are based on democracy, community well-being and cooperation that can be implemented in Newcastle.
As a librarian I am trained to be cooperative.
As a union delegate I am an experienced negotiator. I win some I lose some but I bargain hard. I would do the same for Newcastle.
Socialist Alliance councillors on Moreland and Freemantle Council, for example, have negotiated wins such as affordable housing and ethical investment for their communities.
A socialist vision for Newcastle includes recognising that the world is fast shifting away from coal towards renewable energy sources. We believe that the Hunter can help develop the post
coal future by transitioning towards the manufacture of wind turbines, solar components and continue building rail carriages and ferries. Public investment is crucial to this
Finally privatisation, Newcastle has been losing 200 jobs a year from the sale of state assets and the casualization and retrenchment of state employees. This policy, implemented by all the major parties, affects our facilities such as Stockton Hospital and our TAFE. Privatisation takes $20 million a year from our local economy. Privatisation hurts our jobs, rights and services. It is wrong and must end.
For the strongest vote for local manufacturing and the strongest vote against privatisation vote Socialist Alliance.

The Newcastle Herald  reported some of my responses to questions:
"Socialist Alliance candidate Steve O’Brien said free public transport was a pillar of his campaign.
He said the inner city needed to develop an innovative retail approach and shop-top living.
‘‘That's part of the reason we haven't had people using public transport in the city,’’ he said.