Policies & Commitments

LOCAL & INDEPENDENT
I will put the community first. Free from party politics, paybacks, party donors, backroom deals and favours.

INTEGRITY
I support the urgent need for a fully-funded Federal ICAC with retrospective powers. I propose we support The National Integrity Commission - a federal corruption watchdog set out by The Australia Institute's National Integrity Committee. More info on past rorts HERE

FIX POLITICS
Electoral reform, including capping political terms. Cap political terms: I propose that all elected officials can only serve three terms max. This will get rid of the out-of-touch career politicians.

POLITICAL LOBBYING AND DONATIONS
I will fight for a ban on political donations by all companies, lobbyists and organisations. With donations capped and only accepted from Australian Citizens on the electoral roll.

Canberra to Sydney High-Speed Rail (HSR)
Both Labor and the Liberal party have made commitments for a Newcastle to Sydney High-speed Rail at this election. Will our current ACT Career politicians be brave enough or be allowed to ask or even demand the same commitment to a Canberra to Sydney High-Speed rail line? HSR will provide Canberra and the east coast of Australia with cheaper, faster and better interstate transport options. HSR will deliver massive economic development and growth for Canberra and the region.

CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT  
To ensure we have a bright future with healthy air, clean oceans and less extreme weather I will support: the end of fossil fuel subsidies & invest the money in renewables. Build on the good work by the ACT Government. I support a transition to 75% renewable energy by 2030. I will propose the government restore a credible science-based Climate Change Authority.
I will support the community and industry to drive Australia's transition to clean energy and storage by supporting R&D in clean technologies and delivering an interconnected grid. Developing long-term adaptation strategies to minimise the impacts of climate change is a must.

END FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDIES TODAY
Why Fossil fuel subsidies are bad:
1) Forgoing $13 billion a year ($50bil projected over 4 years) is crazy!
2) The money could be spent on renewable energy innovation, hospitals, nation building infrastructure like HSR and more!
3) It creates barriers for innovation in new technologies like renewable energy as it creates an unfair one sided industries
READ MORE HERE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
I want to make Australia a global STEM superpower by growing R&D investment to lift Australia into the top ten OECD countries (relative to the size of the economy). We Need to invest in a $2.4 billion Research Translation Fund to drive income-generating commercialisation of Australian research and create thousands of new jobs. We need to craft a comprehensive plan across Government to coordinate R&D strategic investment, policy and roles to seize competitive strategic advantage for Australia.

LOVE OLD CANBERRA
Proper funding for local infrastructure (Telstra Tower, Bruce Stadium, our hospitals & more). Including maintaining strong planning controls to prevent over-development from undermining our way of life in Canberra and the region.

BUSINESS & JOBS
Funding: Australia needs to invest in science and innovation on a scale never seen before. I would double the spending on research from $9.2 billion to $18.4 billion. I support strong regulators to improve the financial services system, whose weaknesses were exposed in the recent Banking Royal Commission.

TERRITORY RIGHTS
I will fight for the ACT and NT communities to have the same rights as the rest of Australia. Including supporting voters being given the option to legislate on euthanasia. 

EDUCATION
The greatest investment Australia can make is in its people. Cities that invest in their people through education create social cohesion, innovation, positive communities and strong, forward-thinking economies. I propose we promote equitable and accessible education, fair funding for all schools, affordable earlychild care.

COMPASSION 
Compassion for those less fortunate is a must. This includes welfare services, refugees, education services, foreign aid and more.


ACT POLICING
I propose all ACT Police officers have more flexibility, wages and rights, consistent with their QLD, VIC and NSW counterparts. Including the introduction of an AFP "Blue Card" to provide former members with medical and psychological services, similar to the Department of Veterans' Affairs "White Card". An increase of the AFP's workforce to 8,500 by 2025. The exemption of the AFP from the Federal Government's efficiency dividend requirements. The assurance of the future of AFP Protective Service Officers (PSOs) at Commonwealth facilities.

LIVE SHEEP EXPORTS
Live Sheep Exports: I believe it is our moral and ethical responsibility to bring an end to live sheep exports.

HEALTH & AGED CARE
I propose we commit to a viable future for Medicare and a more transparent, equitable and user-friendly private health insurance system.
Aged Care is a national crisis and I propose we fully support the recommendations from the Royal Commission into the Aged Care
sector. I will never support the family home being included in the pension assets test.

DIRECT DEMOCRACY
I will setup a streamlined way for voters to express their views on particular issues and propose their ideas. For far too long, the decision-makers (career politicians) from our major parties have let us down. It's time to bring people back to politics and politics back to the people. Direct Democracy does this. It gives ordinary, everyday people a say, but it also provides a mechanism for new ideas to make it to the top, without the hurdles of the big party machine, favours, donors, deals etc. I want every voter in the electorate to have the opportunity to vote on key and important bills, legislation and issues and for anyone in the electorate to be able to propose their own bill or change to an existing bill or piece of legislation.

RESPECT FOR OLDER AUSTRALIANS
I support all 12 of the Council On The Ageing (COTA) Policy Recommendations for the next parliament 
  • Recommendation 1: Government adopt a Co-design Framework and Guidelines, and require annual reporting by Departments on codesign approaches with the full diversity of Older people for policy development and program delivery.
  • Recommendation 2: Establish a Productivity Commission inquiry into the costs of ageism in Australia, including particular terms of reference in relation to workplaces and health services.
  • Recommendation 3: Develop a whole-of-government strategy for older Australians and an ageing Australia, with annual reports of achievements against the strategy’s objectives and its action plans.

Read COTA's full 12 recommendations here

LOCAL ISSUES
You matter: Unlike the major parties, I actually care what you think. With the Direct Democracy model, everyone in the electorate will have a say on every major piece of legislation or bills.

INCREASING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE
I support the The Australian Association of Psychologist following recommendations

  1. One-tier Medicare rebate for the clients of all registered psychologists in Australia
  2. Raising the Medicare rebate to $150 per session so that people can afford to see a psychologist
  3. Implementing the Productivity Commission recommendation for up to 40 rebated sessions each year
  4. Establishing a provisional psychologist Medicare rebate. There is currently over 6,400 provisional psychologists that could be providing services 
  5. Funding for more psychologists in schools. 

More detail and info HERE


PLUS MORE...
Above are just a few of the things I feel we need to address for the local community at the federal level. What do you think? Please share with me thoughts, ideas, comments or issues that need to be addressed?