Arthur Bain is our local candidate for the NSW State seat, the Electorate of Oxley.
“Born in NZ in 1963, I was the youngest of four siblings, I was the first in my family to complete High School and go to University, where I trained as a Primary School Teacher. This was possible because of a strong government commitment to Public Education.
I taught in South Auckland, an area of significant social disadvantage, with a predominantly Maori/Polynesian community for three years, before moving to Sydney in 1986.
In 1991 I moved to the Macleay Valley, Dhanggati country, in order to live a simpler life, closer to the land. My partner and I lived in a shack we built from timber scavenged from logging operations, this was my first direct experience of the devastation and waste resulting from unsustainable logging.
I began working at TAFE teaching Adult literacy and numeracy programs and developed a deep relationship with the Dhanggati people. My next job was with a not for profit community organisation, working with disengaged youth, this lead to a position planning, implementing and acquitting Commonwealth funded motivation programs for young people from Gumbaynggirr, Dhanggati and Biripi country. For 7 years I worked shoulder to shoulder with elders and community members with great success, before funding was cut and programs “revised”, leading to my resignation.
I went back to mainstream teaching and was the Principal of Millbank Public School from 2005 to 2016, when I resigned to have more time to devote to environmental and social justice issues.
Formerly a member of Mid North Coast Greens, I have been the secretary of Nambucca Macleay Greens since we formed our own local group in Feb 2017 and have attended most State Delegates Councils since then. I have a good understanding of the party’s processes, policies and practices.
In 2013 I was a founding member of Save Our Macleay River (SOMR), a community organisation which has built relationships with industry, govt departments and scientists, we are now recognised as key community stakeholders in the health of the river. I have been chairperson and a driving force in SOMR since its inception, except for a brief time when I ran,
unsuccessfully, as a Greens Councillor in Kempsey Shire Council’s by-election.
I am putting myself forward as the Greens candidate for Oxley as I am gravely concerned about the direction our society is taking, and I have the skills and experience to make a difference.
The attack on National Parks, the disastrous changes to Forestry Operations Approvals (not unrelated), cuts to Public Education and the privatisation of social housing and Corrections Centres all need to be addressed.
I will work to raise awareness of Greens policy and increase our share of the vote, I will run a respectful, positive campaign, focussing on both environmental and social justice issues.
If you have issues you would like to discuss, please contact me on 0428 475 965 or arthurbain@bigpond.com
Arthur Bain”
Greens on the NSW Stage
Greens do a lot of important work in the NSW State Parliament. Visit the website: nsw.greens.org.au to find out more.
