Welcome to Glass’ interview series with the Brisbane Lord Mayor candidates! In these conversations, we dive into the issues that are important to students and ask each candidate why they deserve your vote. Our aim? To make sure that the QUT student body knows what’s going on in your community, so you can make an informed decision.
This interview is with Labor candidate, Tracey Price.
Tracey Price is a small business owner, a lawyer and corporate professional. She is a QUT alum, and has worked in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Tracey has been an activist in causes supporting survivors of family violence, supporting equal access to education and has been an advocate for supporting people living with disability. She lives on Brisbane’s Northside with her husband and three children.
What is your vision for the future of Brisbane?
Brisbane is a young, progressive and modern city – but after 20 years of leadership by the LNP, we’re at a crossroads. The leadership of Brisbane is tired and out of touch, and I think there needs to be a change.
I want to see Brisbane be the most connected, walkable, accessible, small business friendly, arts and culture loving, welcoming city in the country.
What are your plans to revitalise the Brisbane CBD?
A lot of the current LNP Council’s focus is on the inner city already – and while we have plans that are for the inner city, like returning King George Square to the people of Brisbane by bringing back grass, trees, shade and water features. I’m really keen to see how we can shift that attention to our suburbs by making all of Brisbane an arts and culture capital city.
How will you tackle the housing crisis?
I firmly believe that having a roof over your head is a fundamental human right. I’m proud of our housing and homelessness policies that we’ve announced during the campaign.
We want to take a proactive and sensible approach to increasing density around the city by making sure the infrastructure required to support it is in place – close to shops, public transport, parks, libraries and places of employment.
Audits will be completed on current development applications that haven’t started within their approved timeframes to try and work out what the hurdles are.
Homelessness is also a complex issue, so our team is really excited to increase the funding for Pathways Out of Homelessness Grants from $1 million a year to $5 million a year ($20 million over 4 years).
Do you have any plans to improve the public transport system?
Public transport has been a major issue that’s been raised during the campaign, so I’m really happy that we’ve announced a comprehensive transport policy. If elected, Labor will make bus fares half price for Zone 1 and Zone 2 trips. This could save commuters around $1000 a year!
We also want to make bus stops more accessible, increase the frequency and reliability of our current bus routes and bring more online. Buses will be manufactured right here in Brisbane again, supporting both local industry and secure jobs.
We will also give people a safer way home from the city or valley by making Night Link services free between midnight and 5am.
What policies do you have to lessen the cost-of-living load on uni students and young people?
Our half-price bus fares and free Night Link services will help university students and young people get around the city, saving them time and money.
What is your policy on refugees?
While I appreciate it’s a complex ideological issue for some, there are obviously ways in which Council can support and welcome refugees if they do find themselves in Brisbane.
I would like to think that a Council I lead would have an open door when it comes to providing this support.
How would you ensure that Brisbane’s outer suburbs receive the funding and investment they need to become more liveable and vibrant communities?
This is one of our big reasons to change the way that Brisbane is running. The current Council have focussed on the inner city at the expense of the outer suburbs, and we think that needs to change. Our candidates are all such amazing representatives of their communities and suburbs.
I’ve been really clear that members of our Labor team will be representatives of their Wards in City Hall, not just mouthpieces from the Administration to their communities.
I’m entirely focussed on ensuring that ratepayers are getting value for money when it comes to the services Council delivers all across the city, not just for the few.
We’re focused on improving bus services, adding bus stops and bus routes to the outer suburbs. We’ve announced $1 billion in investment in roads and restoring services like the Bracken Ridge SES depot and urgently needed works at Lindum Crossing in Wynnum Manly.
I’ll also stop the waste and blow-outs on inner-city projects like Metro and Victoria Park and make sure our suburbs become Council’s number one priority once again.
Now for a fun one, what’s your favourite place in Brisbane?
Anywhere I get to be and spend time with my husband and children, and my family is really my favourite place. I love our iconic places right around our city though – the Botanic Gardens, the Wynnum Foreshore, Sandgate and the pier, Southbank and everywhere in between.
Lastly, why should the students and young people of Brisbane vote for you as Lord Mayor?
Brisbane needs energy and a new vision. I think my experience as a lawyer, and a mediator and a small business owner as well as just being someone who enjoys meeting people and learning about them makes the perfect person to bring new life and a positive plan to Brisbane for now and for the years ahead.
