Oxley candidates for March 23 NSW elections

I am a leader, communicator and can connect to people from a wide range of backgrounds. 

As a small school principal I worked closely with the school community, the wider education community and at a state level, with the Primary Principals' Association.

I have been Captain of the Bellbrook RFS for nearly 20 years, rebuilding trust with the farming community, initiating improved volunteer training and building relationships with National Parks and indigenous communities.

Over the last 25 years I have worked closely with indigenous communities, learning respect for land, culture and language. I recognise the social problems facing these communities and have practical ideas for solutions.

We can learn a lot from traditional owners about land management.

My top priorities include employment through environmental repair, construction of affordable housing and creating incentives for farms for the future that integrate crops, animals and forestry to increase soil productivity and provide long term opportunities for prosperity.

A comment I am sure you have heard from Labor is that we stand for 'Schools and hospitals before stadiums'.

This statement makes two points – firstly, we believe the $2.2 billion Ms Berejiklian and the Nationals are spending on demolishing perfectly good stadiums in Sydney would be better spent on schools and hospitals across the State.

The second point concerns priorities.

This issue is symbolic of the fact that Ms Berejiklian and the Nationals have the wrong priorities and that Labor has the right priorities.

We believe in air conditioned classrooms – they believe in air conditioned corporate boxes.

And that’s my main message to the people of Oxley. Labor has the right priorities, policies and people to deliver what we really need.

This election is about choice.

Yes, we need better schools and hospitals. But we must also address the jobs crisis on the Mid North Coast.

We need to restore TAFE. We need to support the roll out of clean renewable energy. We need to act on climate change and the cost of living. We need better roads.

As for me, I am a local farmer of 20 years. I get it – as an industry leader, small business person, parent and community advocate. Labor gets it too. We’re putting people first.

The communities' backlash against the Nationals is reaching fever pitch. We are now increasingly hearing about previously staunch party members and supporters, the so called 'rusted on' National voters, abandoning their party in large numbers.

This disillusionment and disenchantment is becoming widespread, and the voters are looking for change in not only in Oxley, but throughout NSW.

The Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers (SFF) are in essence, the 'Old Country Party'. The Nationals have forgotten not only the farmers, but their grass-roots, and now perceived as 'City Liberals'.

The seat of Oxley, like many areas in regional and rural NSW, has been forgotten as it has been seen as a safe seat. A safe seat actually works against our community when it comes to getting our fair share of funding.

For example, the SFF won the seat of Orange in a by-election in 2016. To win the seat back the Liberal /Nationals promised a $25 million stadium if they elected the Nationals back into that seat.

Here in Oxley, we never see such large amounts because, we are such a safe seat.

We now have a real chance to change that.

Like in Orange, by electing the SFF, we can make the major parties sit up and listen and we won't be the forgotten people anymore.

If the polls are correct, and the SFF have the balance of power, then it will be a better outcome for our people.

My three priorities, include establishing a new equine centre in Oxley - this will not only bring substantial dollars into our economy, it will be a major feature for our region.

Secondly, upgrading and investing in our local sale yards.

Thirdly, two new artificial reefs in Nambucca and South West Rocks. With depleted fish stocks, our region will suffer from less visitation and the tourists will take their money to other centres.

We need a strong economy and the many additional jobs that can be created.

I’ve worked very hard over the last four years to make sure the Oxley electorate gets its fair share of infrastructure and services from the NSW Government.

We have many major works both underway and planned, including the new $72 million Macksville Hospital, a new TAFE to be built at Nambucca Heads, the sporting precinct improvements at Bowraville, South West Rocks and Kempsey, the multi-million dollar works for our rural roads and timber bridges (including Waterfall Way and the Kempsey-Armidale Road), launching the Valla Industrial Lands Estate, upgrading the Wauchope Public School and opening the new Wauchope Ambulance Station, Bellingen Shire’s $10 million for wastewater infrastructure and the $4 million Bellingen Memorial Hall upgrade. There is also $2.8 billion to design, build, finance and maintain the new regional rail fleet.

Of course, we should not overlook the new Pacific Motorway between Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour. This has literally saved lives.

In our social services we have more doctors, nurses and allied health staff coming to our region, more teachers and mental-health workers for our schools, more police, paramedics and firefighters for the frontline and a major focus on our youth. A new Regional Youth Ministry will deal specifically deal with youth unemployment and associated issues.

I am also working hard to deliver to the Macleay Valley a town-based specialised drug squad.

We are investing more than $1.4 billion to help households, businesses and communities save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and we have a plan to achieve nett-zero emissions by 2050 and to make NSW more resilient to a changing climate.

I believe I can provide the continuation of strong financial management, job creation and the delivery of social and bricks and mortar infrastructure to ensure our region gets the opportunities we all deserve.

I am committed to the long haul.

Sustainable Australia Party is a centrist party, committed to delivering an environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable Australia. Too much government policy from the major parties presently focuses on the short term, without regarding the long term impacts. Poor planning decisions and over-development are cases in point. Quality of life needs to be key: economic growth doesn't count for much if it doesn't improve quality of life. We want a strong, sustainable economic base that is not reliant on population growth to prop it up.

1) Better planning to stop over-development

We want to return real planning power to local communities using plans devised by community panels. Biodiversity corridors need to be included in new developments.

We also recognise the need to reduce population pressures by lowering immigration from present high rates, back to the long-term average of 70,000 pa.

2) Secure jobs via a more diverse economy

Currently our economic base is too focused on unsustainable industries. We want to broaden the economic base into sustainable factories, farms and small businesses.

We want to support scientific endeavours such as biotechology where Australia can export to the world.

We need Australian ownership and management of utilities, land and resources. There needs to be more educational institutions (vocational and university courses in this region), to provide skills training for local workers.

3) A sustainable environment and population

We need a better balance of economic, environmental and social demands, to ensure the well being of future generations.