Colin Hesse
Colin Hesse is a former Australian Greens Councillor, Inner West Council. He moved to Marrickville in 1985, and is passionate about the community. He served a term as a Councillor on Marrickville Council between 2004 to 2008. On Council he was instrumental in ensuring Council restarted its apprenticeship scheme; creating job opportunities for local young people, actively campaigned for the new public pools in Enmore and Petersham, and incorporating accessibility for people with disabilities into Council’s planning protocols.
Colin is also a member of Marrickville Heritage Society and Wolli Creek Preservation Society, an opponent of the WestConnex project, and a long time campaigner for public transport. Colin is a volunteer presenter of a local government focused community radio program on Thursday mornings on Radio Skid Row 88.9FM. He works in foster care, is a union member, an active supporter of live music, and a justice of the peace.[1]
Sticking Together
Annie McLoughlin, Matt Kunkel, Sarah McKenzie, Grace Blake, Colin Hesse.
Email to Albanese
Email to: The Hon Anthony Albanese MP.
From: Colin Hesse
Date: 31st October 2022
Dear Anthony and team,
I write regarding today’s news that the Government of the United States of America is, according to the ABC news website, “preparing to deploy up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to northern Australia.” (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-31/china-tensions-taiwan-us-military-deploybombers-to-australia/101585380
I write to register my serious objection to this proposal, one that I believe can only inflame regional tensions in the Asia-Pacific, and which will likely see an ongoing expansion of militarisation among our neighbours.
As I have written before, I am concerned that the alliance between the Australian and United States Governments is not one that promotes peace in our region. I ask you and your Government to refuse this suggestion by the United States Government of locating bombers on Australian soil, and to instead promote a peaceful and demilitarized region, one where military spending declines across all nations in our area.
Your Government has importantly increased aid and development support to our Pacific neighbours, undoing a terrible direction in policy begun under the Government of Tony Abbott. I strongly support improving the quality of life of all in our region through peaceful means.
I also recognise and strongly support the action your government has taken, and I quote from International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) “in a vote at the United Nations, Australia dropped its opposition to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, bringing an end to five years of hostility to this crucial agreement. “
Sincerely, I hope that your Government will become a party to the treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
To do so of course our nation should follow the lead of the New Zealand Government, and no longer allow the visit, much less the hosting, of nuclear weapons capable military items such as ships or aeroplanes.
I very much believe that moving the Australian nation to be a leading voice in the cause of peace and non-violence will make our nation both safer and more prosperous. I look forward to your advice on
these matters.
Yours sincerely,
Inner West Council
In 2018 two members of the 15 member Inner West Council were SEARCH Foundation members Colin Hesse (Australian Greens and Sam Iskandar (ALP).[3]
Anti-War meeting
From Green Left Weekly, March 3, 2004. On February 26, a public forum on the US-led war on Iraq sponsored by the Marrickville Peace Group was addressed by Anna Samson from the Stop the War Coalition, federal Labor MP Anthony Albanese, Greens representative Colin Hesse and Sue Johnson, the Socialist Alliance's candidate for the federal electorate of Grayndler.[4]
SEARCH Foundation
Circa 2018 Colin Hesse was SEARCH Foundation Project Officer.
Early Greens
Bruce Welch, Kate Tippett, Jean Hartman, Colin Hesse