Jennifer Horsburgh

Candidate for Gold Coast Mayor

Jennifer has lived on the Gold Coast since 1982 and has taught for 30 years at the local high school. Jennifer is passionate about her community, and is an ongoing volunteer for the Wildcare hotline, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, the Burleigh parish, and the Austrian-Australian club.

Jennifer believes that local government has a responsibility to alleviate the rising cost of living for people in the community. She wants to keep rate increases down, and restrict spending and grants for harmful businesses that exploit people, animals, and the environment. Instead, Jen believes that local government should support initiatives that directly benefit the community, addressing issues such as 1080 poisoning, urban sprawl, and protecting local biodiversity.

When elected, Jen will prioritise funding for animal-friendly accommodation and retirement homes - in particular, domestic violence refuges and crisis accommodation. Without animal-friendly options, many people remain in unsafe situations or are forced to sleep rough instead of abandoning their companion animals.

Jennifer supports town planning initiatives that recognise the intrinsic value and wellbeing of animals, nature and people. With this in mind, she will prioritise an end to nearby forest clearing, increase local green spaces, advocate for crucial wildlife corridors, and ensure that public transport is affordable, reliable, accessible and safe for people and their companion animals.

The Gold Coast area still allows the use of the cruel 1080. An indiscriminate poison, 1080 is responsible for excruciating animal deaths, including native wildlife such as possums and birds. 1080 also poses a risk to community safety, especially companion animals and young children in the area - and this is why a complete ban on the use of 1080 poison in the Gold Coast LGA will be Jen's first initiative.