Climate Change

Building the Ark

“Predicting rain doesn’t count; building arks does.”
— Warren Buffett

The story of Noah’s Ark isn’t just about floods—it’s about foresight, responsibility, and action. Noah didn’t wait for the rain to fall; he prepared for the storm to protect the world and its future.

Today, we face our own storms. Not just climate change, but climate acceleration—a world where extreme weather events are hitting harder, faster, and closer together.

A Pattern We Can’t Ignore

I’ve lived through it firsthand.

  • 2022 Twin Floods – My own home was hit. Families across Queensland and NSW were devastated.
  • 2025 Record Rainfall in North Queensland – The heaviest in living memory, wiping out a Bruce Highway bridge, cutting off entire regions.
  • 2019–2020 Black Summer Fires – Half a continent ablaze. 34 lives lost, 2,779 homes destroyed.
  • Rising Insurance Costs – As disasters mount, so do the premiums. Many can no longer afford to protect their homes.

If You’re a Skeptic…

Let’s say you don’t believe in climate change. Maybe you think it’s overstated, or even completely wrong. Great—if that’s the case.

But what if it isn’t? What if there really is a chance our house could be burning down?

Then you want a good insurance policy.

Climate action is risk management. Just like you insure your home, car, or business against worst-case scenarios, you don’t wait until the fire starts—you prepare.

The Smartest Power is the Cheapest Power

I support the cheapest power source.

Once upon a time, that was coal. And coal was great for that. But we could be cooking the planet.

Now, the cheapest energy is renewables—and it’s getting cheaper every day.

  • Some say it’s ugly—maybe.
  • Some say it kills birds—maybe.
  • But it’s the best option we’ve got.

And cheaper power means lower bills and more local jobs. That matters in Maryborough, Gympie, Noosa, and everywhere in between.

The Nuclear Distraction

Some want to bet our future on nuclear power.

  • It’s the most expensive power option – which means higher taxes and fewer services.
  • The first plant wouldn’t be ready for over a decade. Too slow to help now.
  • It would choke off private investment in renewables – because building nuclear requires nationalizing half the grid. Do we really want taxpayers footing the bill for a decades-long experiment?

We don’t have time for that. We need cheaper, reliable power now.

From Traveston Dam to Tasmanian Salmon: Why Wide Bay Should Worry.

In 2009, federal Labor blocked the Traveston Dam after the science showed it would cause irreversible damage. State Labor had pushed it too far, but Peter Garrett made the right call — and protected the Mary River.

That decision was only possible because the system allowed for accountability when new environmental risks came to light.

Now the Albanese government (with the backing of the LNP) – in a move designed to win a seat in Tasmania – have passed a new law that will make it harder for communities — or even ministers — to stop bad projects once they’re underway, even if new evidence of harm emerges.

To her credit, Tanya Plibersek has tried to stand up for environmental due process. But this rushed change, made for short-term political advantage in a marginal seat, puts long-term public interest at risk.

I stand for due diligence, good governance, and protecting what matters.

Wide Bay is a safe seat – but that shouldn’t mean our protections and laws are quietly eroded so Labor can win votes in Tasmania.

I’m Agnostic on Projects. I’m Clear on Process.

As an independent, I don’t come with pre-approved lists of which projects are good or bad. I come with a commitment to process—to transparency, consultation, and evidence-based decisions.

Every project must be judged on its merits. And if new risks emerge, we must be able to stop and reassess. That’s how democracy and good governance work.

Wide Bay Is a Safe Seat—But We Shouldn’t Be a Soft Target

Canberra shouldn’t assume that Wide Bay won’t notice when our environmental protections are weakened, our rivers endangered, or our communities bypassed.

I’m standing to change that.

We deserve a representative who fights for due process, stands up for our region’s future, and believes in building the ark—not just predicting the rain.

Why This Matters for Wide Bay

Gympie & Maryborough: You’ve seen the floods, the damage, and the insurance costs. You don’t have to “believe” in climate change to see we need to prepare for more extreme weather.

Noosa: Your economy runs on tourism and nature. We need clean energy investment that protects the region’s future.

Skeptics: You don’t have to agree with climate science to understand that risk management is just common sense. And cheaper power means a stronger economy.

The floods are coming. It’s time to build the ark.