Hiles targets Plibersek’s territory

Sydney is too expensive, does not have enough affordable housing and job security is worsening.

That’s the synopsis according to Federal Greens candidate Dianne Hiles, who will take on Tanya Plibersek for the seat of Sydney at the upcoming Federal Election.

“There is huge unmet demand for affordable housing,” says Ms Hiles. “The budget does not even talk about it. This is something that is affecting people in their normal living. The price of rent is going up and the Australian dream of owning property is becoming totally unrealisable.

“Sydney itself is one of the most expensive places to buy a home or to rent. The policy settings in terms of tax breaks for investors are not doing anything to create the necessary housing. Public housing has to provide, in effect.”

Ms Hiles acknowledges that Ms Plibersek, the Federal Minister for Health and Medical Research, is the favourite to retain her post at the election, but she believes change is on the way.

“It’s not a matter of if the Greens win Sydney, it’s a matter of when,” she says. “I’m very proud to be playing a part in the transition [away] from a party that has lost its relevancy. Labor has moved so far to the right that the Greens are stepping into the mainstream.”

Sydney has traditionally been the domain of the left, epitomised by the longstanding popularity of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, her successor in state parliament Alex Greenwich, and the Greens’ strong polling over the last decade. Ms Plibersek garnered 43 per cent of the primary vote for Sydney at the 2010 Federal Election, compared to Greens candidate Tony Hickey’s 24 per cent.

“If everyone who voted for Alex Greenwich, Chris Harris and Jamie Parker votes for me, it’s going to be an extremely interesting election,” says Ms Hiles.

Ms Hiles has framed herself as a beacon of hope in a political landscape dominated by negativity.

“There are two draw cards when voting: one is fear and one is hope,” says Ms Hiles. “When people are frightened, they tend to vote on the conservative side of politics. It’s a ploy to keep people frightened, when in fact there are other things to be much more concerned about – not least of which is the state of our environment.

“Rather than developing something positive, the Opposition is intent on pursuing the negatives and Labor goes chasing after them.”

This is Ms Hiles’ explanation for the Federal Government’s new policy, announced last Friday, that asylum seekers arriving by boat would be exported to Papua New Guinea.

Ms Hiles, a Rozelle resident, is well placed to comment on refugees. Twelve years ago, she co-founded Children Out Of Detention (ChilOut), an organisation advocating the release of children and families from immigration detention.

Ms Hiles became a Member of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2010 for her dedication to human rights through Amnesty International, Children Out Of Detention and the Evatt Foundation.

But she has more issues in her sights, beyond refugee rights.

“Nobody is talking about housing, job security is getting worse, and we’ve got one in six children living in poverty,” she says. “I’m making it quite clear I’m standing for the people who have been left behind.”