Election day is just around the corner on 31 October and pre polling has begun. There are eight candidates officially vying for our seat of Cook. You can find out more about each one through candidate profiles on Newsport's 2020 election coverage page.

Increased funding for health services and public schools along with better job opportunities are priorities at the top of the list for Greens’ candidate Deby Ruddell as she runs for the seat of Cook in the State Election.

Ms Ruddell currently works in a safety, environment and human resources role at a Mossman Sugar Mill where she said co-ordinating return-to-work for injured workers, opened her eyes to the limited health care in our region.

“It is common to wait a week to see a doctor, and the only alternative is to go to the emergency ward, putting pressure on an already under-resourced hospital,” she said.

“I fully support the Greens plan to establish 200 Community Health Clinics across the state, with bulk billing GPs and specialists to take the pressure off our hospital system.”

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Ms Ruddell who lives sustainably off the grid in the Daintree said she is passionate about improving our way of life.

“My experience of many years as a health, safety, environment and human resources advisor has provided me with the understanding of legislative frameworks and job creation.

“I want our beautiful region to have more employment opportunities, especially to support businesses in the protection of our waterways, reef and rainforest.”

Ms Ruddell said our local public schools should be fully funded with improved resources and infrastructure and all fees should be abolished. 

“Our young people should have better opportunities to grow to their best person through a supportive and tailored learning environment.

“All of us living here at the top end of Queensland and in the Torres Strait should have opportunities afforded elsewhere in the state. By making mining billionaires and property developers pay their fair share in royalties and taxes, we can have more publicly owned basics like housing, energy, health and education for all, and create jobs, too.

“I was driven to get involved in politics because I felt angry and let down by government and came to understand I had to be part of the change I wanted to see,” Ms Ruddell said.