Community
22 February, 2025
Greens select academic
JAMES Cook University academic Phillip Musumeci has been named the Queensland Greens candidate for Leichhardt at the upcoming federal election.
It is Mr Musumeci’s second tilt at the seat, having contested Leichhardt as the Greens candidate in 2022. He also unsuccessfully contested division 8 in last year’s Cairns Regional Council elections.
Mr Musumeci is a fourth generation local who was born in Babinda, grew up on a family farm and now lives in Cairns with his wife and son.
He has spent half his working life as a systems engineer and the other half teaching computing science and engineering at a number of universities, including James Cook University.
Mr Musumeci said he was running for Leichhardt again because the major parties had failed the community on the issues of cost-of-living, housing and climate change.
“As an academic adviser at James Cook University, I saw first-hand how difficult it is for young people to pay the bills, juggle study and part-time work, and how hopeless many feel about ever owning a home of their own,” he said.
“Too many people in our community are struggling to pay the bills and are being ripped off every time they buy groceries at the supermarket.
“From Cairns to Thursday Island, climate change is affecting our everyday lives and extreme weather events are becoming more common, yet the major parties are too beholden to their corporate donors to take action.
“The Greens are committed to tackling the cost-of-living crisis by making supermarket price gouging illegal, putting dental and mental health into Medicare and making visits to the GP free.
“We will address the housing crisis by capping rent increases and building more affordable housing.
“We will take strong action on climate change by stopping new coal and gas projects and investing in renewables to create thousands of well paid, long-term jobs in clean energy.”
Senator Larissa Waters, who is running for re-election to the Senate, has praised Mr Musumeci as a hardworking and passionate advocate for the community.
“We need people like Phillip in Parliament who will represent the community, not corporate interests,” she said.
“More Greens will keep Dutton out and get Labor to act.
“With a minority government, we can deliver dental and mental health into Medicare and take strong action on the housing and climate crisis.”
Leichhardt MP Warren Enstch is retiring and paramedic Jeremy Neal is the LNP’s candidate. Former Cairns Taipans player Matt Smith is Labor’s candidate.
The 2025 Australian federal election will be held on or before May 17, 2025.
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