A SOUTH East documentary on fracking has inspired performing artist and small business owner Gavin Clarke to enter the political arena as the Greens candidate for Mount Gambier.
After attending the premiere of Kalangadoo farmer David Smith’s Pipe Dreams Fractured Lives film, the Mount Gambier resident put his hand up to contest the seat at the upcoming state election.
“The documentary exposed exactly what is at risk with the gas industry expansion into the South East,” he said.
“I understood at that moment that none of us can afford to stand by, complaining but doing nothing.
“We all need to be active.
“Politics as usual just doesn’t cut it anymore.”
Born and bred in Mount Gambier, Mr Clarke left the city to pursue his artistic career in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney and has returned to the South East to undertake further academic study.
Mr Clarke said while his interest in politics was piqued by the state forest privatisation, the State Government’s push to introduce fossil fuels to the South East spurred his parliamentary attempt.
“I thought that was poorly done by the State Government in terms of community consultation and the transparency around it,” he said.
“I thought the government is really not listening to the people down here.
“The Greens represent change towards a sustainable future for Australia that is fairer for all Australians and they consistently argued against the sell off of public assets, such as the state forests which crucially underpin the stability of our region.
“We also support essential services back in public hands and that includes undoing the corporatisation of TAFE as well as a public power retailer to stop the power bill rip offs.”
Mr Clarke said the party supported the full decentralisation of government departments, including the state’s health system, as well as supporting increased investment in renewables and protecting the environment.
The political aspirant said the party would fight to ensure a total ban on fracking in the South East.
“If we manage a significant swing in the primary vote, united around the issue of fracking, it will sound an alarm bell in state parliament, warning that here in the South East we take our environment very seriously,” he said.
“We don’t need politicians entrenched in old party politics right now, we need people who are willing and able to make a song and a dance to make people stop and listen.
“That is what I am trained to do and have been doing my entire life.
“If, once the dust has settled, I think that we have still not been heard and the Green Triangle is still being threatened by gas fields, I will gather the people and we will march on parliament, with a marching band.”
