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www.alpineobserver.com.au Thursday, April 28, 2022 - Page 13
www.wangarattachronicle.com.au
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Phone (03) 5723 0100
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Indi Candidates
Why have you put yourself forward as a candidate, and if elected, what principles would govern your representation as Indi’s federal MP?
What are your three key issues in Indi and what action/policy/plan do you have to make a difference?
Animal Justice Party policies are based on our core values of kindness, equality, rationality and non-violence. We will improve the lives and the future of animals, people and the planet. Our platforms are not based on outdated principles, or economic theories that no longer apply. I support urgent, national action to stop the increasing threat to native fauna and the wider environment and to stimulate local rural businesses and communities.
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ALEKSOV, Angel Animal Justice Party
The global climate emergency needs urgent action to protect all living creatures and ecologies. We support clean, renewable energy and sustainable development, and primary production. Government, transport businesses and communities must viable future for our people and environment. work together for a
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Our rural community has been hard hit by the pandemic restrictions, especially rely on tourism, hospitality and retail. I will support urgent funding for economic businesses which Indi, with local consultation and stimulation for accountability for successful results. Like most Australians, I oppose the unregulated cruelty of live export, and will support domestic processing of export meat products.
I’m running again to represent our community as your Independent MP because I strongly believe we need real representation on the issues that matter to us, not someone who just makes up the numbers for party bosses. As your representative, I am governed by values of integrity, transparency, respect, positivity and always acting in the best interests of Indi. I work for Indi 100% of the time.
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HAINES, Helen Independent
We have unfortunately been unable to make contact with Lachlan O’Connell, nor had a response from the Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party. We hope he will be able to participate in our remaining Q&A over the next two weeks.
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Stamping out corruption, better health care across the North East and growing economy are important issues. our local In Parliament, I have fought to keep the major parties accountable through commission. a federal integrity My plan to improve health care includes training more doctors locally, waiving debt for mental health workers who university move to the region, properly funding implementing the recommendations new hospitals, and of the aged care royal commission. Affordable housing is key to getting more workers for our businesses and helping locals stay. My plan would help fund infrastructure to open up land to build more houses.
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O’CONNELL, Lachlan Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party
The destruction of our freedom and rights over the past two years of virus madness and the massive debt that the Federal Government racked up at the same time. I want future generations to enjoy a free way of life like all Australians did prior to the madness. The debt will slowly destroy our economy if not paid back.
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WILLIAMS, Stephen United Australia Party
I joined politics because I feel we the people have lost our voice. I feel that a lot of major politicians have forgotten the people of Australia. My values and principles are first and foremost honesty and transparency. I was raised with the values of truth and honesty and believe they are one of the most important parts of politics that should be stood by every day.
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STEVENS, Beth
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
We are at a critical point in history. I will be unable to look my children in the eye and answer to them if I don’t do all that I can to ensure they have a liveable planet, a diverse environment and a fair society to live in. As Indi’s federal MP, I would be guided by the Greens’ principles of ecological sustainability, social justice, grass roots democracy and nonviolence.
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GILBERT, Benjamin The Australian Greens
I have seen how The Nationals team across the country can get things done for regional Australia, and it motivated me to make sure that Indi has that same voice at the heart of government. As part of that team my passion for community, rural and regional areas will get things done for Indi. I am known for being honest, genuine, respectful and consultative.
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FISHER, Liz
National Party of Australia
DAVID, Nadia
My decision to stand cemented during the Black Summer bushfires. To have a Prime Minister on holiday when our country was literally on fire enraged me. We need representatives in government with not only the will but the power and ability to make things happen and I know I can do that as a member of a Labor Government. Simply put, I want improve our chances of a prosperous, to solve problems and healthy future.
FIDGE, Julian
Elections provide an opportunity to lobby Eight years ago, I proposed we should government. have rehabilitation services in regional Victoria. Both major and we now have rehabilitation services parties adopted the policy, in Wangaratta, Corio and Traralgon. I brought $52.1 million to rural Victoria, without being elected. In contrast, while elected, Ms Haines has brought only $6.8 million. My guiding principles are personal freedoms, lower taxes and less government.
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Australian Labor Party
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Liberal Democratic Party
We face one of the most uncertain economic and geopolitical times in our nation’s history, we need strong leaders in Canberra. Leaders that deliver but also play a role in shaping Australia. for our local community, I’m standing to see better leadership and sound economic management in politics. To ensure governments never take us for granted again. To bring national security experience to government in a changing national security landscape.
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LYMAN, Ross
Liberal Party of Australia
Issues affecting to Indi are health, education and cost of living. We need our hospitals and other health services well funded and supported to provide care at the electorate. In regard to education all levels across the the first three years and abolish HECS UAP will increase education funding by $20 billion in fees. The increasing cost of living regional tax concession of 20% for will be addressed by a those living further than 200km from a capital city, increasing the age pension by $180 a fortnight and encouraging businesses to relocate to rural areas.
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Three key issues that keep coming up in conversation that I have with people in Indi are Health, Education and Farming. One Nation has individual policies subjects. on all these three
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Health - we recognise the need to bolster the number of regional doctors, critical health professionals and nurses and other will do so by introducing three year contracts for newly qualified medical professionals and in return pay their HECS-HELP loans in full. I feel all of One Nation’s policies have been created to suit the communities of Indi and Australia.
Through my lived experience with Totally Renewal Yackandandah and Indigo Power in developing up-scalable renewable energy at a community level, I have and experience to facilitate similar the knowledge projects across Indi. To drive investment and employment in Indi, I can use my knowledge and skills as a business owner, employer and manufacturer, to attract and support the development businesses and innovation. of local, sustainable
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As part of the Greens’ team in parliament I would ensure Indi’s inclusion in of our plan to build, nationwide, the implementation a million affordable, accessible, high quality homes, and ensure renters have real rights. Aged Care: Ensuring our record funding for aged care supports keeping together and allows as many as couples possible to age in their own home. Housing: It’s great that people are moving Australia by providing 10,000 low-deposit to our region, so we will build more homes in regional guarantees each financial year for within, regional areas. those moving to, or
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Connectivity: We invested heavily in regional telecommunications, after Labor did nothing, but there is more to do. Continuing to upgrade mobile towers and fix black spots is vital to give us the ability to work from home in the future.
Housing, health, future vision. Labor has strong policies on building 30,000 affordable homes, but better than new relationships with all levels of government that we have the track record of establishing strong I will get better rural health care throughoutand this is the only way we’ll solve this housing crisis. Indi, not just in the cities. Labor’s fix Medicare is clear. And I have a plan to protect and clear vision for Indi based on Labor values of fair pay for a day’s work, compassion and equality for all and a government that sees economy. us as a society, not an
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Unlike Helen Haines, we have policies. We would reduce taxation by increasing the tax-free threshold to $40,000, incentives to enter the workforce, increasing especially seasonal workers; Decreasing 20% to reward people for working, taxation to a flat and stop punishing people who work overtime; Removing company tax on reinvested profits, to encourage investment and jobs. Personal Freedom: We would allow freedom of speech and assembly; abolish secret tribunal hearings and internet censorship; abolish liability of internet page owners people. for the posts of other A Nuclear energy trial of the safest, modern technologies for providing clean base-load power.
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Listening to community, I’ve heard a need for infrastructure investment - especially in health, a need to grow the economy, a need to create conditions for private in our region, bringing jobs and investment a strong local economy. My Liberal Plan for Indi will create a stronger future through: Infrastructure investment - road and rail, renewable energy, and importantly, Manufacturing – attracting medium and large manufacturers to the region. health. Trade and Tourism – I will work to open new markets and push for trade deals that benefit our region, promoting the goods and services we produce right here in the North East.
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Q&A Q &A w with ith IIndi ndi candidates
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GUIDE
PROUD TO BE BACK THOUSANDS turned out in Wangaratta and across the rural city to commemorate Anzac Day without restrictions on Monday. At the head of the march down Ovens Street to the cenotaph were D-Day veteran Len Maidment (right) with Keith Wise behind the wheel in the 1938 CFA Dodge fire truck. Full report and more photos pages 4 and 5. There will be more Anzac Day coverage in Friday’s Chronicle. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
McCarthy’s purple patch Sport
$37m capital spend A 2022/23 draft budget encasing a $37.14 million capital works spend was tabled at last night’s Wangaratta council meeting. A 1.75 per cent rise in overall rate revenue and a six per cent increase in general waste charges are also proposed. The high capital works figure will be funded by a massive $18.89m in grant funding and $18.25m in council cash from operations, reserves and investments.
1.75% rate rise,, 6% general g waste charges g increase in draft budget g BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au
Some $6.65m of works from the 2021/22 program was carried over, including funding for the Ned Kelly Glenrowan Heritage Project ($2.63m), Bowser Cell 6 Construction ($1.53m), and King Valley Prosecco Road
Masterplan ($600,000). This carry over occurred as a result of surging demand for contractors and materials, supply shortages and bottlenecks following COVID restrictions, stimulus and other global events casing delays to delivery of the projects. New budgeted works total $30.5m and at the top of the list is the $9.59m Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre
extension of the stadium and gym ($10.49m over two years, with $5.5m of State Government funding). Other works include flood mitigation structures ($1.5m), Newman Street drainage ($1m), Moyhu Hall redevelopment ($350,000), new footpaths ($251,000), Wangaratta entrance beautification ($100,000), and Everton Infrastructure Plan ($125,000).
Labor wants all Australians to have the certainty to plan for their future and get ahead Only Nadia David and Labor have a plan to deliver reliable and secure jobs with better pay Authorised by Chris Ford, Australian Labor Party, Victoria, 438 Docklands Dr, Docklands VIC 3008
Some $8.49m will be spent on renewing roads and assets, including $3.77m on road renewal, $1.34m on plant and equipment renewal, and $1.83m on the gravel resheeting program. The Fair Go Rate Cap of 1.75 per cent will result in general rates revenue of $29.76m and council reports that the full rate cap has been applied to “ensure council is able to maintain revenues in
line with inflation and fund projects and services that our community values into the future”. Council notes that budgetary pressures extending into future years may include increases to council’s insurance premiums, the continued increase to the superannuation guarantee, and new EBA outcomes. ■ Continued page 2