{"id":344540,"date":"2024-02-27T22:49:54","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T12:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=344540"},"modified":"2024-02-28T14:22:10","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T04:22:10","slug":"candidates-quizzed-in-blackbutt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2024\/02\/27\/candidates-quizzed-in-blackbutt\/","title":{"rendered":"Candidates Quizzed In Blackbutt"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Division 2 candidates … Linda Little, Douglas Grant and Wendy Hazelton<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Jeff Connor compered the evening<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 27, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

A forum held at Blackbutt Memorial Hall on Monday night provided the first opportunity in the lead-up to the March 16 Council elections for the audience to ask questions of the candidates.<\/p>\n

About 50 people attended the event, along with all four Mayoral candidates and the three aspirants standing for the position of Division 2 Councillor.<\/p>\n

The evening was organised by candidate Linda Little and compered by well-known Blackbutt Medical Centre director Jeff Connor.<\/p>\n

The night began with each speaker giving a brief five-minute summary of their background, reasons for standing and the main things they hoped to achieve if elected (audio files, below). <\/strong><\/p>\n

After each candidate had spoken, the audience was invited to ask questions and each candidate was given a few minutes to answer.<\/p>\n

These ranged from the best way to train new councillors to the attitudes of candidates towards renewable energy projects and nuclear power.<\/p>\n

All seemed to agree that the process of approving renewable energy projects could be improved.<\/p>\n

Candidates were also asked their views on climate change and what cost-cutting measures they thought Council should investigate.<\/p>\n

One question which seemed to puzzle nearly everyone on stage was what their views were on “smart cities” or “15-minute cities”.<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, Division 2 candidate Wendy Hazelton explained that “geofencing” and security cameras were things everyone should be concerned about.<\/p>\n

The next South Burnett candidates forum will be held on Sunday (March 3) at Nanango’s Taras Hall from 3:00pm, organised by the Nanango Business Alliance.<\/strong><\/p>\n

All Mayoral and Divisional candidates have been invited to attend.<\/p>\n

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Goomeri residents have been invited to attend a candidates’ forum this Thursday night (February 29) at the Hall of Memory from 6:00pm to meet the Mayoral and Gympie Division 6 candidates.<\/p>\n

The Yarraman Progress Association will also be running a forum at the Yarraman Bowls Club this Saturday (March 2) from 5:00pm to 7:30pm to give Yarraman and Cooyar residents the chance to meet candidates standing for Toowoomba Regional Council.<\/p>\n

[UPDATED with correction. All Divisional candidates have been invited to Sunday’s Nanango forum, not just Division 1 candidates.)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Mayoral candidates … Kirstie Schumacher, Kathy Duff, Tom Wilson and Gavin Jones<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Blackbutt-Benarkin Lions Club fired up a sausage sizzle to raise funds for the two local State schools<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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About 50 people turned up Blackbutt Memorial Hall to listen to the candidates speak<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Mayoral Candidates<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

In the order they spoke:<\/strong><\/p>\n