Job security, the economy and education were major themes among federal election candidates from all sides of politics in Melbourne’s north.
The Northern Weekly sent questions to all 26 candidates in the Calwell, McEwen and Scullin electorates, asking what their most important local federal issues were and which local issue they would tackle first, if elected.
Here are the responses from the McEwen candidates.
McEWEN ELECTORATE
ROB MITCHELL: Federal MP, Australian Labor Party candidate
Question: What is the most important federal issue for the electorate of McEwen?
Answer: Job creation. With our national economy is in transition, it’s now more important than ever we have a plan, like Labor’s $1 billion jobs plan – to create jobs now and for the future. The key to being able to get people and our children job ready is education, whether it’s better schools, trades training or more students at university under Labor – we’re proud of our record.
Q: What is the highlight achievement you have delivered for your electorate?
A: Delivering every promise I’ve made to the people of McEwen from my 2007 and 2010 campaigns. I stand on that record with my commitments this time.
Q: Rank the following five issues in order of importance (from a personal perspective, not necessarily according to party policy):
Education
Employment
NBN
Climate change
Asylum seekers
VICKI NASH: Australian Sex Party candidate
Q: What is the most important federal issue for the electorate?
A: Small business is particularly important to the area, and as such needs to be supported, the tax load on small business could be significantly reduced by taxing the non-charitable works of religious organisations, which costs the Australian tax-payer almost 20 billion dollars annually
Q: What would be your first local issue you would tackle were to win your seat?
A: Education is key in more than one way. Schools need to be a comfortable and inclusive place for all students. I would fight to remove organised religion from public schools and for counsellors with psychological training to be put in place in public schools. Sex education also needs to be improved.
Q: Rank the following five issues in order of importance (from a personal perspective, not necessarily according to party policy):
Education
Unemployment
Asylum seekers
NBN
Climate change
NEIL BARKER: Greens candidate
Q: What is the most important federal issue for the electorate?
A: Without action on climate change, the region will eventually become unrecognisable from its current state due to increased severity of heat waves, more bush fires, vegetation loss, erosion due to flooding, and declining agricultural productivity. Human health may also be adversely affected.
Q: What would be your first local issue you would tackle were to win your seat?
A: My first priority would be to lobby for much greater public funding for primary, secondary and tertiary education. This will prepare everyone with the skills to take advantage of business opportunities in new technology industries which will emerge from low carbon economies.
Q: Rank the following five issues in order of importance (from a personal perspective, not necessarily according to party policy):
Climate change
Education
Unemployment
NBN
Asylum seekers
BARRY NEWTON: Family First candidate
Q: What is the most important federal issue for the electorate?
A: The growing cost of living burden on the family and the pressures that this bears on members of the family.
Q: What would be your first local issue you would tackle were to win your seat?
A: Place great emphasis on removing carbon tax and alleviate cost-of-living pressures. I would also look at placing greater emphasis on youth unemployment and placing greater emphasis on apprenticeships.
Q: Rank the following five issues in order of importance (from a personal perspective, not necessarily according to party policy):
Unemployment
Education
Asylum seekers
Climate change
NBN
BRUCE STEVENS: Katter Australian Party candidate
Q: What is the most important federal issue for the electorate?
A: International trade and the free trade agreements we have signed that have caused an absolute degrading of our ability to manufacture, farm and process minerals in Australia. We cannot compete against countries engaging in slave labour rates.
Q: What would be your first local issue you would tackle were to win your seat?
A: Negotiate the immediate start of the Mernda rail extension in partnership with the state government. Traffic lights at Craigieburn Road West and Hanson Road in Craigieburn and traffic lights at Foote, Powlett and Sydney streets in Kilmore
Q: Rank the following five issues in order of importance (from a personal perspective, not necessarily according to party policy):
Unemployment
Education
Asylum seekers
Climate change
NBN
TREVOR DANCE: Palmer United Party candidate
Q: What is the most important federal issue for the electorate?
A: The greatest issue facing McEwen residents is the lack of good grassroots representation in government – negatively affecting funding, infrastructure, health care, employment, business, farming and education.
Q: What would be your first local issue you would tackle were to win your seat?
A: The two local issues I would tackle as soon as I won the seat are the extension of the South Morang railway and the university/Tafe resurrection in Sunbury. At the same time implementing our policies to stimulate this country again.
Q: Rank the following five issues in order of importance (from a personal perspective):
Unemployment
Education
NBN
Asylum seekers
Climate change
DONNA PETROVICH: Liberal candidate
Q: What is the most important federal issue for the electorate?
A: Cost of living. Under the current Labor government we have seen electricity bills increase by up to 94 per cent and the price of gas and food increase across the board. Australians cannot afford another term of this government. People from all walks of life are being hit hard in their back pockets.
Q: What would be your first local issue you would tackle were you to win your seat?
A: Abolishing the carbon tax is the first issue the Coalition government will tackle. If elected, I am committed to the delivery of all of my election commitments to the communities within the McEwen.
Q: Rank the following five issues in order of importance (from personal experience- not necessarily in accordance to party policy):
*Did not respond to this question
FERDIE VERDAN: Rise Up Australia Party Candidate for McEwen
*Did not respond to questions
IAN CRANSON: Country Alliance Candidate for McEwen
*Did not respond to questions
