Greens announced Thornton’s Paul Johns as election candidate

THORNTON’S Paul Johns has been announced as the Greens candidate for Paterson in the May Federal Election.

Born in Kurri and raised in the Maitland area, Mr Johns is legally blind and has been visually impaired since birth.

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He told NOTA he is running for election to “support others with a disability”.

“I will address gaps and barriers in services for others with a disability – I too navigate the NDIS pathway,” Mr Johns said.

The Greens candidate works in the disability sector, sits on Maitland City Council’s Access Committee, and is an educational advocate for Guide Dogs NSW with his dog Tate.

“Because of my personal experience of disability, I have a focus on making life better for many ordinary Australians by expanding the NDIS for a start as well as stopping price supermarket gouging and getting dental and mental medicine put into Medicare,” he said.

“Bringing down the cost of living for all ordinary Australians is my goal.”

Mr Johns’ campaign also has a climate change focus.

“I’ll be doing my best to ensure my children and yours have a healthy future, one that will not be smashed by climate chaos effects like floods and fires, that means stopping any more increases in coal and gas projects from now on,” he said.

He is also an advocate for ensuring major corporations pay the correct tax.

“Many mining companies in Australia get away with no tax back to the people,” he said.

“Here in the Hunter, billions of dollars of our wealth is taken out of our Valley – with not much return.”

Affordable housing is another focus for Mr Johns.

“We must build the houses and units and supply them to people who need them at an affordable rate,” he said.

“Australia could build 25 percent public housing in 1950, why not now?

The need is there, we just need the political will.”