DARREN CHURCHILL

ACT Democrats President

Candidate for Ginninderra

ACT Democrats “Sport and Recreation Policy” Release

Sporting Fields are Neglected and Dangerous say ACT Democrats

Many ACT sporting fields are not adequately maintained and participants risk injury, says ACT Democrats President and Candidate for Ginninderra, Darren Churchill.

Launching the ACT Democrats “Sport and Recreation Policy” in Giralang, Mr Churchill declared “The Stanhope government has failed the community with its neglect of sporting facilities!”

“The poor and deteriorating condition of sports grounds across the ACT is painfully obvious to users of these public spaces.” said Mr Churchill. “The Government waves away such concerns as simply a result of drought. Yet they are not doing nearly enough to manage these grounds in the best way possible.”

“Parents with families involved in junior sport will know – and many parents also play recreational sport themselves – many Canberra sporting fields are now verging on dangerous. The Government must allocate more resources to field maintenance. Priorities include filling in holes, seasonal restoration of bare areas of dirt, and fixing of faulty sprinkler heads and water pipes.”

“The situation in Kaleen and Giralang is appalling.  But other parts of Belconnen and Gungahlin are no better.” declared Mr Churchill.  “People have told me of sporting fixtures being moved to the grounds of private schools.  If the private schools can maintain their fields, why can’t the government maintain community fields?”

“Community owned facilities must be maintained at quality levels, regardless of the sporting level of the hirer.  But they have been let go and now some serious restoration work is needed.  Surely greywater and captured runoff could be used for watering and some basic maintenance undertaken?” queried Mr Chucrhill

The Democrats policy aims to make sport available to all-, including getting more women and workers participating in sport by increasing the availability of weekday and lunchtime activities.

Pathways to participation is considered important.  For example, the Democrats support an A-League team for Canberra by a private consortium (with some government assistance) to give young footballers the opportunity to aspire to the elite level and to stay in Canberra.

“We welcome the ACT’s inclusion in the Women’s A-League with Canberra United.  Now it’s time for the men.

The ACT Democrats reaffirmed their long-standing position of support for a multi-purpose Motor Sport facility (including a Dragway).  “We still believe that a suitable site can be found, probably in the Majura Valley.” Mr Churchill said.

“We also want to see an overall increase in an active lifestyle as a means of reducing the incidence of obesity.” Mr Churchill concluded

Darren Churchill

ACT Democrats President

Candidate for Ginninderra

Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au

O412 196 473

Darren Churchill

ACT Democrats President

Candidate for Ginninderra

Government has lost the plot on Transport say Democrats!

“The Stanhope government has completely lost the plot on transport” says ACT Democrats candidate for Ginninderra, Darren Churchill.

The final plan for ACTION’s Network 08 was released today with the government hailing it as the first full review of ACTION in 10 years.

“Labor has been in office for almost seven years.  Why has it taken them six of that seven years to get around to a review of ACTION?  And it’s still not enough!  Why has it been only ACTION that was reviewed and not the whole transport system?” questioned Mr Churchill.  “This is clearly a government that is more concerned with the electoral cycle than with any comprehensive plan for transport!  This is nothing more than tinkering around the edges!”

“The Democrats have been calling for improvements to our transport system for years.  At a time of increasing threats to climate change and record high petrol prices, something needs to be done to get more people onto public transport and to ease traffic congestion.”

“We need a full and comprehensive review of transport that includes: a full bus service; integration with other forms of transport; extension of the Gold Card system to all Seniors; proper planning of roadways with a view to the future; and immediate investigation of light-rail proposals.” Insisted Mr Churchill

“People will use a system that is serviceable and functional.  We need a public transport system that caters for all (commuters and other users).  It’s just not good enough!”

“The best way to cut the petrol bill is to use alternative forms of transport to motor vehicles.  It will not only save money but reduce greenhouse emissions.  But in order for people to use them they have to be adequately provided.  How high does the price of petrol have to go before the government does something about the alternatives? demanded Mr Churchill

Darren Churchill

ACT Democrats President

Candidate for Ginninderra

darren.churchill@act.democrats.org.au

Tel: 0412 196 473

KEEP THE BASTARDS HONEST!

ACT Democrats

KEEP THE BASTARDS HONEST!

Media Release 08 August 2008

ACT Democrats Launch New Campaign Website

The ACT Democrats have launched their new campaign Website for the October ACT elections.

The federally registered party, which will contest the election in the Ungrouped column, has a functional new Website with detailed information about their candidates:

Darren Churchill.(Ginninderra)

Marilyn Kay Dennis (Ginninderra)

Greg Tannahill (Molonglo).

The Democrats Website (http://www.act.democrats.org.au) has additional information about the party, news stories and links to the party’s national site.

The Democrats will regularly update the site with additional news, policy releases, ACT Democrats events and candidate announcements shortly after they occur.

“We recognise that making information available electronically is an important part of campaigning these days” said party president, Darren Churchill (who is also a candidate for Ginninderra). “Websites were widely used in last years Federal election, and the ACT election this year is also having a large electronic presence.”

“The serious flaws in the ACT Electoral Act, may have placed a few hurdles in front of our party.  But voters now have access to a ACT Democrats resource, where they can be informed of our activities.” announced Mr Churchill

The Democrats mission statement Keep the Bastards Honest!” takes pride of place near the top of the web page.  “And that is exactly what we’ll do, with good policies, straight talking, and honesty, tolerance and compassion!” concluded Mr Churchill.

Darren Churchill

ACT Democrats President

darren.churchill@act.democrats.org.au

http://www.act.democrats.org.au

Tel: 0412 196 473

ACT Democrats

KEEP THE BASTARDS HONEST!

Media Alert: ACT Democrats Election Contacts

The ACT Democrats candidates for the October ACT elections are available for comment and Media Interviews. Contact details are provided below.

The candidates are:

Darren Churchill

Candidate for Ginninderra

Email: darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au

Telephone: 0412 196 473

Marilyn Kay Dennis

Candidate for Ginninderra

Email: marilyn.kay.dennis@act.democrats.org.au

Telephone: 02 6161 8933

Greg Tannahill

Candidate for Molonglo

Email: greg.tannahill@act.democrats.org.au

Telephone: 0400 389 343

Cheers,

Darren Churchill

ACT Democrats President

darren.churchill@act.democrats.org.au

Tel: 0412 196 473

Darren Churchill Candidate for Ginninderra

Darren Churchill has lived most of his life in the Canberra region. Originally from Goulburn, he now lives in Kaleen. Darren has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Newcastle and a Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Wollongong. He has taught in secondary schools in both NSW and the ACT and is a registered relief teacher.

Darren has also worked in the music industry doing sound and lighting, and in the early 1990s was a band manager. Currently, Darren works part-time as a group fitness (Boxfit) instructor. As a Christian (Anglo-Catholic), he has strong views on human rights, equality, social justice and inclusiveness. In the long tradition of the Australian Democrats, he stands with the voiceless the marginalised and the oppressed in the fight for justice and equality.

Darren is a vegetarian and is greatly concerned about animal welfare and food labelling. He was active as a volunteer in the campaign to reinstate South Sydney Rabbitohs to the NRL, and was active in the Canberra Cosmos and Belconnen Blue Devils Supporters Groups. He supports the proposal for an A-League team for Canberra.

Darren stands for getting the balance right in legislative decisions. The result needs to be the right mix for the environment, the economy and social justice. He is a straight talker who represents the core Democrats values of honesty, tolerance and compassion. If elected, Darren will address transport, health, energy and planning in ways that will lead to a sustainable Canberra and a better future. He will take immediate action to develop an overarching transport plan that provides availability, accessibility and environmentally sustainability to cater for the ACT’s needs well into the future.

Managing our schools and quality education is high on his agenda, including adequate resources for public education and support for teachers. He will increase the availability and improve the management of public housing. Darren will provide for medical services and keeping people in the medical professions (especially nursing) and including women’s and mental health, and will immediately act to reform ACT electoral laws and accountability in government.

Darren will bring the Australian Democrats’ 31 years of legislative experience to the Assembly and offer practical, balanced solutions from the progressive centre. He will “Keep the Bastards Honest!”

Darren Churchill
Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au
Tel: 0412 196 473

ACT Democrats

KEEP THE BASTARDS HONEST!

The ACT Democrats have announced their first three candidates for the October ACT elections.

The candidates are:
Molonglo: Greg Tannahill, 28, whose interests include affordable housing, education, public transport and our videogame censorship laws.
Ginninderra: Marilyn Kay Dennis, 61, whose interests include public transport, low-income families and arts and culture.
Ginninderra: Darren Churchill, 43, the party President, whose interests include general transport, education, sustainability and governmental reform.

The federally registered party will contest the election in the Ungrouped column, as it is not registered in the ACT, and because the ACT’s electoral law will not allow it re-register in the same electoral cycle as when it lost registration.

The Democrats endorsed all three candidates last week and expect more to come on board as the election gets closer.

“We’ve got a good mix of candidates, a variety of ages, male and female, all with different backgrounds” Mr Churchill said.

The ACT Democrats first became active in Canberra politics in the ACT’s old House of Assembly, with Gordon Walsh and Ivor Vivian being strong advocates of ACT Self-Government from 1979 to 1985. The Democrats have contested every election since self-government, with Roslyn Dundas elected as member for Ginninderra from 2001 to 2004.

“The Democrats have 31 years of parliamentary experience to draw on. We are the natural party of the crossbenches, the negotiators. Four years of majority government in the ACT has been a disaster. Labor has been able to rush through any legislation it chooses. A Liberal majority government would be no better.”

“When there was a Democrat in the Assembly (Roslyn Dundas) from 2001 to 2004 things were different. We intend to make that difference again.”

“The only way to ensure fair legislation and make whoever governs accountable is by electing the ACT Democrats to Keep the Bastards Honest!” concluded Mr Churchill, emphasising the Democrats mission statement.

Darren Churchill
ACT Democrats President
darren.churchill@act.democrats.org.au
Tel: 0412 196 473