TRUMPET OF PATRIOTS

Most important and relevant issues

The issues that I am most focused on at this time, in response to community concern, are the drastic cost of living increases and the cost of housing. These issues are two sides of the same coin. However, there are a number of other issues that have a direct impact on these two fundamental issues, including the sourcing of electricity and water, foreign debt, immigration, and foreign ownership of property in Australia.

Vision for the next 3 years and beyond

Reducing the cost of living and addressing the housing crisis requires immediate action, while at the same time, effort must be given to mitigating the contributing factors (as mentioned above). Immediate moderation of immigration, international investment in housing, erection of additional housing, and improving transport to open up new housing developments will begin to turn the housing crisis around. Reconsidering our options for affordable electricity, reversal of policies that are crippling Australian farmers and other primary producers, and wide-ranging review of unfair pricing tactics by retail and distribution agents will result in modest immediate cost-of-living reduction and permanent solutions in the long-term.

Building relationships

Personally, I have been frustrated by the extremely short election campaign for this election, brought on by the way that the government was able to manage the election date to its own advantage. I would have liked time to visit broadly across the O'Connor electorate and I feel greatly disadvantaged by not be able to meet people face-to-face and introduce myself and our policies. If I am elected, I will travel extensively across out electorate to meet, greet and listen. This is my track-record. While the African Director for Global Partners, I was in a different African country every month for seven years. Talking to people face-to-face is the only way to really hear the felt-needs and to empower people.

THE GREENS

Most important and relevant issues

The three issues that we understand to be most important and relevant to the people of O'Connor are the escalating impacts of climate change - changing and less predictable weather patterns including reduced rainfall in many parts of O'Connor and warmer weather. This is affecting natural ecosystems and farming businesses. We are seeing mass die-off in forest and woodlands as well as marine heatwaves. Unless Australia plays it's part in a rapid transition to renewable sources of energy and stops any new coal and gas extraction these conditions are set to get worse. Remaining native vegetation must be protected and efforts to restore and regenerate country in partnership with FN communities must be supported. Funding must be restored to Landcare networks these networks haven't had an increase to funding for seven years.

Second is the critical shortage of adequate affordable housing. The Greens will push for caps on rent increases and tax reform to prevent the exploitation of negative gearing by property investors owning multiple properties. Having safe affordable housing is a human right and it is extraordinary that in a wealthy country like Australia people are homeless and that their numbers are increasing. The Government must resume responsibility for producing social housing.

Third is the cost of living. The Greens will continue to expose the excessive profits in Australia's supermarket duopoly. The lack of competition in the retail sector not only allows for Coles and Woolworths to price gouge but also restricts fair prices for primary producers. We will push to make price gouging illegal.

Vision for the next 3 years and beyond

Pushing the government to legislate for better nature protection via a modern Environment Protection Act and nature positive legislation to halt the extinction crisis and provide a trigger for climate. Prohibiting large corporations from donating to political parties. One in three big corporations currently don't pay any tax, legislate to have them pay their fair share.

Building relationships

As someone who has been a Parliamentary representative for 16 years in the State Parliament I know how to maintain connections with the community. More needs to be done to facilitate community participation with regular public forums and inquiries that engage public knowledge. One of the four principles that we Greens support is participatory democracy - people should be given the opportunity to participate in decisions that affect them.

THE NATIONALS

Most important and relevant issues

The sheer size of O’Connor means that there are, and will continue to be, different issues at varying time that affect them more than other regions. However, what I have seen since visiting the local areas, is that the there are several concerns that are present in all of them. If I was to condense them into three main areas they would be, cost of living, infrastructure and environment. The areas are contextualised to the regions they exist in, for example, the cost-of-living concerns in Manjimup are slightly different to Albany’s, which are slightly different to Laverton’s, but the concerns are valid and impacting the people in their community. It is essential that a ‘one size fits all approach’ is not assumed or applied as this is a sure-fire way of ensuring that the issues in any areas are not met. Infrastructure that has continually impacted on the people of O’Connor’s lives (such as telecommunications, health) has ongoing ramifications that also are present in other areas of concern, representing the intertwined and complex nature that these issues have now become. It is essential that I keep having conversations and collaborate with people in the electorate and look for ways that address these issues, and constantly look for ways that can ease some immediate pressures, as well as formulating long term plans.

Vision for the next 3 years and beyond

It is essential for me, if I have the honour of representing the people of O’Connor, that I continue to talk, discuss, collaborate and confer with the people of O’Connor. I do not believe in courting people for the election and then forgetting about them once successful. My role will be to not only represent the people of O’Connor, but also to be the voice that speaks for them in the political forum. My investment in this electorate goes further than three years, as my and my family’s future will be here long after I am gone. This election is not about me, it is about future proofing the needs of the people in this electorate. The issues that are most important to the people of O’Connor are not easy fixes and will take a commitment that sees beyond the next election. The issues of environment for example need an ongoing and committed voice that will not flip and change according to the elections and must always represent the people of O’Connor.

Building relationships

Relationships are extremely important to me and one of the main reasons I put up my hand to represent O’Connor. Regional people are ‘my kind of’ people, and I value their honesty, authenticity, integrity and ability to hold people to account. I believe these are also my best attributes and allows for open and robust discussions which will ensure that O’Connor’s voice will always be heard in the mix of the other political noise. I believe the only way to truly understand the issues across the electorate is to speak directly to the people it is affecting, rather than hearing it second hand or via another avenue. My years of teaching has shown me the importance of building relationships on trust and active listening, and I pride myself on my ability to do these things. I look forward to spending as much time as needed in the areas of the electorate, as well as being available through digital platforms if that is what people prefer. It is essential to me that I am there for the good times, as well as the challenging times and that I can support the people in O’Connor according to their needs. I genuinely enjoy talking to and spending time with people in regional areas, believing that everyone’s story and contributions to their towns is invaluable and I always learn something new from people with every conversation.

LEGALISE CANNABIS PARTY

Did not respond

LIBERAL

Did not respond

AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Did not respond

PAULINE HANSON’S ONE NATION

Did not respond

AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIANS

Did not respond