‘Meet the Candidates’

Dear Community Members,

I want to share with you the speech I delivered at the ‘Meet the Candidates’ event, hosted by the Noosa Chamber of Commerce at The J in Noosa. As always, I welcome your questions and feedback.

Jess.

Ladies and gentlemen,

My name is Jess Phillips, I am a proud lifelong local, with 38 years connected to our beautiful home.

Growing up in Tewantin, I have the fondest memories of playing at or on the river and mum knowing where I had been before I got home. From as young as I can remember, I was immersed in local life, my family ran a local business, and we were heavily involved in the Noosa Pirates and the Cooroy Gymnastics club. My first job was Noosa sports power in lanyana way if you are local enough to remember the old tiny but full store with Trevor.

My journey continued with a passion for gymnastics, leading me to coach at the Cooroy Gymnastics Club after a successful career in the sport myself. I couldn’t help but follow my dreams to be a police officer, I completed a Diploma of Justice and proudly marched out of the police academy in 2008, a year marked by both by huge personal loss and the beginning of my dedicated service.

My policing career took me across Queensland, from Cairns to Bamaga, and back to Brisbane City, where I faced cyclones, floods, and firsthand crisis and trauma. Despite the challenges, I returned home in 2013, proud to police my very own hometown. As one of the youngest Police negotiators in QLD, I attended hundreds of high-stress, critical incidents. My highlights were always the moments with the community, especially in roles focused on our young people and vulnerable members.

Reflecting on my experiences, I resigned last year, for a different approach to safety and community service. Tonight, I stand before you, asking for your vote, driven by a genuine commitment to community service. My values centre around transparency, humility, and putting community interests first.

If elected, my key policies revolve around staying in our lane, controlling what we can, and being proactive in road maintenance and infrastructure maintenance and appropriate considered upgrades. This includes a focus on bike accessibility and pathways, anticipating the future of e-scooters to keep our kids and riders safe. I also advocate for safer, accessible amenities and the preservation of our waterways – keeping them safe, healthy, and accessible for all.

Additionally, I believe in rebuilding the connection between council and the community. We need transparency, open communication, and a willingness to have difficult conversations. As we make decisions today, the forefront of every decision should be made with consideration to how this will shape the Noosa our children, grandchildren, and future generations will experience. I have two girls, primary school age, they saw my campaign article in the paper and were so proud and in that moment, it reminded me decisions should be made selflessness and without personal bias and opinions. Like every police investigation, starting with facts, you don’t arrest someone and search for the evidence after and nor council should not make decisions and then tick a box around consultation with the community when that is not being done as thoroughly and effectively as it should. 

My commitment starts and stops with you with practical policies that prioritise safety, accessibility, and community engagement. Can we build a Noosa that not only meets our current needs but also preserves the heart of what makes this place truly special for generations to come.

Thank you for your time, and I humbly ask for your support.