Middle-aged woman fights election: 'Enough is enough'
Kariong resident Ms Lisa Bellamy has announced she will contest the seat of Gosford in the upcoming March NSW State election.
She said her "core policies" were "protecting our natural environment and building strong communities".
She described herself as one of three local middle-aged women contesting seats at the election who are saying "enough is enough".
Ms Bellamy said: "It is clear to me that if voters are interested in protecting the environment, they need to stay away from the major parties.
"Only Independents, such as I, Aunty Colleen Fuller in the Upper House, and Gab McIntosh for Terrigal, can be relied upon to stand up for our cultural heritage and the natural environment."
Ms Bellamy said she would speak up for the native habitat and wildlife.
She said she was asking sitting Member of Parliament Ms Liesl Tesch: "What are you actually doing to protect Kariong Sacred Lands and our natural environment on the Central Coast?
"What do you want the Central Coast to look like in 50 years?"
She said she had written to the major parties, including the Greens, to ask them what they intended to do to save vital habitat and cultural sites, but had received no reply.
"When it comes to the natural health of our Coast and the mental health of our communities more needs to be done," she said.
"Our local politicians, Labor, Liberal and Greens need to start standing up for environmental issues here and today, rather than making big announcements that never come to pass.
Ms Bellamy said she had run her own cleaning business, managed revenue accounting at the University of Newcastle, and was currently acting in her community to protect greenspaces and native bushland, including volunteering as a wildlife rescuer.
She said she had raised three children and was now a grandmother.
Lisa says, "I don't want to tell my grandkids I stood by and did nothing while the Central Coast was being bulldozed."
She said the three independents would be actively campaigning, including dressing up in animal costumes and waving signs on Central Coast Highway and outside the electorate offices of the Members for Gosford and Terrigal.
SOURCE:
Media release, 25 Jan 2023
Lisa Bellamy, Kariong