STEPHEN JONES (ALP)
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Infrastructure: The NBN is critical to the Illawarra’s future: fibre optic broadband, connected to every home and business. Broadband internet is already changing the way we work, do business and access health, education and entertainment services. Six years ago, no-one had heard of a smartphone. Today, they are everywhere and are central to our daily lives. Every day, new apps are being developed. Technology is driving our future and building a new economy. Yes, we need the national broadband network. Labor says, build it once, build it right and build fibre optic. Otherwise we are left behind.
Health: The previous Coalition government left us with a shortage of doctors and nurses so Labor quickly doubled training of health professionals.
We’re getting results - UOW-trained doctors are now practising locally and bulk-billing in Throsby is now at 92 per cent - under health minister Tony Abbott, it was around 60 per cent nationally.
Unfortunately, Throsby is ground zero for diabetes - the integrated approach to healthcare driven by Medicare Locals - under threat from the Coalition - will help us deal with this.
New Cancer Centres, new PBS drug-listings, Medicare-subsidised MRI licences and expanded medical practices are providing better access to top-notch healthcare.
Unemployment: A strong, growing economy and fair workplace laws are critical.
Labor says that locals should always have priority over imported workers for jobs - I helped put these new laws in place.
Better access to skills training and intensive assistance for long-term unemployed job-seekers is making a difference. More needs to be done.
Labor has run successful Job Expos and helped locals get training for work as a truck driver, NBN fibre-optic technician and retail & hospitality - areas of workforce shortage.
Trade Training Centres are getting our kids off to a great start in a trade while still at school.
Cost of living: Local families deserve secure, well-paid jobs. Labor got rid of the Coalition’s WorkChoices and increased the tax-free threshold to $18,300, keeping more money in the pockets of low income earners.
Labor has invested $26 billion in affordable housing. Our National Rental Affordability Scheme has provided 205 new rentals in the Illawarra, $22 million to build 48 new social housing premises and repair 2435 more.
Childcare places are now 40 per cent higher than under the Coalition and we’ve increased the childcare rebate to 50 per cent, helping 5600 local families.
Shellharbour TAFE funding is creating more jobs and better availability, training locals to run their own daycare businesses.
Schooling and job prospects: Labor’s Trade Training Centres are giving school students access to industry-standard training, helping them complete school and get a job. There are eight in Throsby and three being built.
With more local services-based jobs, students need access to training in a range of vocational areas through our great TAFE system – Labor will invest more.
Labor will ensure construction projects employ more apprentices and trainees so they can learn a skill and get higher completion payments.
Better access to universities means that there are 190,000 more uni students than when Labor came to power, many from low SES backgrounds.
Higher education: Labor is removing barriers to university. Over 25,000 students are now enrolled at UOW: up 3.4per cent since 2006. University funding is up 65per cent and will continue to rise.
We’ve invested $135million in new facilities so UOW will be a centre of excellence in infrastructure, building technology, advanced materials, alternative energy and early childhood.
Not everyone will go to Uni. NSW Liberals slashed TAFE funding, while Labor funded first class facilities at Wollongong, Yallah and Shellharbour TAFEs and school-based Trade Training Centres at Warrawong, Dapto, Warilla, Lake Illawarra and Albion Park schools. Vocational training has a big future in the Illawarra.
Climate change: Labor’s emissions trading scheme is the most efficient and cost-effective approach to cutting carbon pollution. The Coalition’s Direct Action scheme is nothing but a fraud that would cost taxpayers billions. Clean technology projects are already modernising our local manufacturing sector with co-investment projects for new equipment and clean technology innovation, reducing carbon intensity of outputs and lowering energy use. Renewable energy use is up 25per cent and over 1million solar PV systems have been installed. More energy efficiency also means electricity use is falling. CSG development should not interfere with water catchment or agriculture.
PETER MORAN (GREENS)
Infrastructure: A well-resourced education sector can allow the transition to the new industries that will provide the future of employment growth in the region, as well as providing the opportunities for the current population to increase their skills level and allow them to participate in the workforce to the greatest extent possible. The Greens are the only party that supports full implementation of the Gonski plan. We have policies, fully costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office, which provide certainty that our plan for education reform is deliverable.
Health: The Greens support medical schools in regional universities such as the University of Wollongong. Graduates from these schools are more likely to work in the area in which they are trained, thus increasing local doctor numbers. The Greens made it a condition of support for the ALP government that dental services for children be able to be accessed through Medicare. Over three million Australian children now have access to dental services thanks to the Greens. Mental health services currently account for approximately 6 per cent of the total health budget. The Greens will advocate for this to increase to more accurately reflect the prevalence of mental-health issues in the community. We also support a greater emphasis on preventative health measures. All our policies have been costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office and are affordable and deliverable.
Unemployment: Did not respond.
Cost of living: The Greens have a plan to build 125,000 new social housing units. This will not only provide housing for those who need it most, but will also place downward pressure on rents to make housing more affordable for everyone else. In relation to childcare we have policies which would see all fusing subsidies paid directly to the childcare centre, so that parents only have to pay the gap, not pay it all and wait for money to be reimbursed. We also propose a $200m fund to provide new and expanded not for profit and community childcare centres. We support increases in wages for qualified childcare workers, to encourage them to stay in the sector.
All our policies are fully costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office so we know they are affordable and deliverable.
Schooling and job prospects: Without proper investment in education the gap between rich and poor will continue to widen. That is why the Greens support full funding of the Gonski reforms. The old parties only support partial funding. We support a $5billion per year injection into education that will deliver smaller class sizes, better support for teachers, more specialised teachers to help those students with special needs and an increase in university funding– not the cuts to universities proposed by Labor.
Education cuts are dumb cuts. All the Greens policies are costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office so you can know they are affordable and deliverable.
Higher education: The Greens are the only major party which supports full implementation of the Gonski reforms. This would deliver 10per cent increased funding to universities, not the cuts proposed by others. Research and Development funding would be increased to 3per cent of GDP under Greens policies. This will support universities in conducting ground breaking research, and also help the private sector to provide the framework which will support the jobs of the future. The Greens support increased support for the TAFE sector. Over recent years the old parties, when in power at state level, have squeezed TAFE. This is not a sensible move at a time of recognised skills shortages. We would lift the away from home Youth Allowance by $100/ fortnight, and index the Youth Allowance to the CPI. This will help keep students out of poverty. All Greens policies have been fully costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office so we know they are affordable and deliverable.
Climate change: A price on CO2 pollution has seen a significant reduction in Australia’s emissions. The Greens have policies in place that would increase Australia’s renewable energy target up to 60per cent by 2030 as technologies evolve. Already, it is cheaper to build new solar power generation than coal power generation. Coal seam gas has the potential to destroy the aquifers on which our agricultural industries depend, and poison the water in our drinking catchments. This industry should be frozen until there is scientific certainty about its effects. It is pointless to destroy the environment in order to provide short-term profits to miners. The impacts of climate change will impact directly on local communities. Local councils, and ratepayers, will foot the bill if no real action is taken to reduce the impacts of climate change. All Greens policies are fully costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office so we know they are achievable and deliverable.
LARISSA MALLINSON (LIBERAL)
Infrastructure: A bypass for the Princes Highway at Albion Park is the most important infrastructure priority in the electorate of Throsby. I have strongly argued the case for investment in this upgrade and if elected as federal member for Throsby, I will step up my efforts and continue to fight for funding.
Health: Did not respond.
Unemployment: A Coalition government will scrap the carbon tax to reduce sky-rocketing power costs, increasing job security and making it more attractive for Throsby businesses to hire new workers.
We will cut $1 billion worth of red and green tape each year.
We’ll cut the company tax rate by 1.5 per cent from 1 July 2015.
Our plan will encourage more residents in Throsby to achieve their dream of starting their own business and creating local jobs.
We’ll also support young job seekers by providing apprentices with interest-free "Trade Support Loans" of up to $20,000 over four years to help with their everyday costs.
Cost of living: Did not respond.
Schooling and job prospects: We have a plan to support local young job seekers by providing apprentices with interest free ‘‘Trade Support Loans’’ of up to $20,000 over four years to help with their everyday costs. We’ll provide local apprentices who complete their apprenticeship with a 20per cent discount on their Trade Support Loans.
The Liberals with our strong economic record will create a stronger more diversified economy, to create two million jobs within a decade. Locally in Gilmore, we’ll also invest $2million into Ulladulla’s Dunn and Lewis Centre to facilitate a regional facility for training and sporting activities for young people.
Our Plan will provide more incentives and more opportunities for young people to get a job and keep it.
Higher education: The Coalition will strengthen higher education and encourage Australians of all ages further their education and gain a competitive advantage.
We will ensure the continuation of the current arrangements of university funding.
We’ll ensure the sector has a stable long term source of infrastructure funding.
We’ll work with the sector to reduce the burden of red tape, freeing up the sector to concentrate on delivering results and services.
We’ll make sure government research funding is spent as effectively as possible.
Climate change: We will abolish the carbon tax – no ifs, no buts. This will help take pressure off rising electricity and gas prices. We’ll take direct action to reduce carbon emissions inside Australia, not overseas – and also establish a 15,000 strong ‘‘Green Army’’ to clean up the environment. The Coalition supports the responsible development of CSG, when co-existence conditions have been met. Farmers should have the right to say yes or no on CSG exploration and extraction on their own property. There should be no long-term damage to the underground water supply.
MAY KING (PALMER UNITED PARTY)
Infrastructure: The Illawarra needs better road access to Dapto and Kanahooka. Off ramps and on ramps to help residents in their daily life. The Maldon-Dombarton rail link would also help create jobs.
Health: The Palmer United Party plans to federally fund hospitals directly - $80 billion in additional funding has been allocated in our policies.
We are committed to ensuring that local people in the Illawarra receive the best possible healthcare.
Unemployment: Did not respond.
Cost of living: Palmer United will make the first $10,000 on all home loans tax deductible - new loans and existing - and reduce income tax by 15 per cent, which will give families more disposable income.
As well, paid parental leave will also apply to mothers who choose to stay at home with their babies, at the rate of $25,000 for six months for everyone (regardless of their earnings), which is fair to everyone.
Mothers are Australia’s most valuable resource; they are bringing up the future of the country.
A vote for Palmer United will turbo-charge the economy, and look after families as well as business.
It is the party with a heart. I understand the pressures of bringing up a family. I have three grown-up children. Been there, done that, and I know how hard things can be at the moment.
Schooling and job prospects: The Palmer United Party is committed to education funding with a policy of generous direct federal funding to schools.
The people on the ground know best what their school needs are. We also have a policy of doing away with HECS fees so that people graduating don’t start work with a debt around their neck.
Personally, I also agree with trade training places and upgrades and funding to agricultural education.
It is distressing on many levels that the Illawarra has the highest unemployment in Australia and should I be elected to represent us in Canberra I will be doing everything possible to reverse that trend. I attended a wonderful forum the other evening at Dapto organised by the community. It deserves funding and support and I would be fighting to get that Federal funding and support. I would also convene meetings with specialised speakers and programs to help people get jobs. No more strategies, paper work blah blah but action to really help people re-train, have more education in whatever field they choose and generally be a conduit for change and help.
I have raised three children and I know how important employment is for their quality of life. I think the Illawarra needs a champion and our party leader Clive Palmer wants to be just that, and I would like to be our strong voice in Canberra.
Higher education: Did not respond.
Climate change: Scrap the carbon tax. A bipartisan commission to study climate change and work on locations and an immediate ban on CSG until its true effects can be determined.
WAYNE HARTMAN (NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTS PARTY (EQUAL PARENTING))
Infrastructure: The Illawarra needs a lot of infrastructure. It needs the Albion Park Rail bypass, the Dombarton to Port Kembla Rail link, the on-off ramps of the F6 at Dapto and the bridge over the railway line at Fowlers Road.
Health: The health system in the Illawarra has been neglected for a long time. More money from the federal government needs to be injected into the Illawarra health system. That money would employ more doctors in the Illawarra. Maybe it’s time they built another hospital in the Illawarra region so more people could access doctors.
Unemployment: Did not respond.
Cost of living: There is already a childcare rebate for low income families. To address the cost of living, one would change the child support legislation so parents could afford to live in affordable housing.
Schooling: We need to provide more courses at TAFE and improve education services and provide more pre-apprenticeships and traineeships in a chosen field but we need more employment opportunities for this to happen.
Higher education: Did not respond.
Climate change: We want the carbon tax scrapped because it puts a strain on the cost of living pressures on all of us and in businesses. All CSG activities should be stopped because there is not enough information about this process and it should be reviewed.
PAUL MATTERS (INDEPENDENT)
Infrastructure: The most crucial infrastructure we need here in the Illawarra is an integrated public transport system of a light rail network linked to a fast train service to Sydney. An Illawarra light rail is desperately needed to provide an efficient and environmentally sustainable feeder infrastructure from Horsley through Berkeley, Warrawong and into the Wollongong CBD. This feeder network would link with an upgraded fast-train system, which would provide a no more than 60-minute journey from Wollongong to Sydney. It would be funded under the Building Australia Fund.
Health: In some metropolitan areas in Australia there is an over-supply of doctors leading to expensive over-servicing. The imbalance of regional shortages should be solved by a government medical manpower policy to ensure that GPs serve where they are needed.
This requires restrictions on over-servicing by the strategic issuing of Medicare provider numbers as an incentive for doctors to serve in the Illawarra. This is not the conscription of doctors but an extension of the powers of the Commonwealth that currently applies to international medical graduates.
Unemployment: Did not respond.
Cost of living: We support the right to direct our superannuation into our mortgage to use our super savings to purchase our own home.
This system flourishes in Singapore, which has the highest home ownership rates in the region.
We would reduce Australian interest rates to 1 per cent.
We would abolish Negative Gearing tax breaks and undertaking a major social housing construction program.
There would be real tax cuts for low and middle income families. We would be implementing the Henry Tax Review recommendation of combining the Child Care Benefit and the Child Care Rebate, providing non-means tested assistance for all families and increased subsidy for low income families.
Schooling and job prospects: It is critically important to rebuild a strong TAFE and increase funding.
2. Provide through TAFE comprehensive courses of foundation skills training.
3. Subsidise apprentices rather than subsidising employers of apprentices so young people who can’t afford apprenticeships and are living under the poverty line have a real choice to break the unemployment cycle.
4. Keep TAFE affordable and accessible to all.
5. Increased recurrent funding to the Illawarra education system.
6. Full funding and implementation of the Gonski program.
Higher education: 1. An important step to improving competitiveness and productivity is to build innovation capability through the development of innovation ‘‘ecosystems’’ with the university as a regional research and education institution.
2. Restoration of Research and Development tax concessions cut by the Gillard government which provide incentive for industry funded university research.
3. Reversing the savage cuts to tertiary education of more than $1billion over the next four years imposed by the Gillard government.
4. Increasing Commonwealth university funding from a little over 2per cent to 3per cent of total Commonwealth outlays.
5. Restore free university education and abolish HECS.
Climate change: Global warming is an important problem and we will need to apply adaptation measures to inevitable short-term temperature rises. We must invest large amounts of government expenditure on research and development for longer-term environmental solutions. The carbon tax should be abolished as it operates as a ‘‘reverse’’ tariff against the steel industry and has failed to mitigate global warming. An emissions trading scheme is a real threat to the Australian steel industry by providing a potential subsidy for off-shoring of steel production as occurred in the UK with Redcar steelworks and Tata Steel. It will be ineffective in mitigating global warming. I support an immediate freeze on CSG development across Australia while we investigate the risks; a federal royal commission into all impacts of the industry and development approvals; an immediate ban on CSG development in drinking water catchments; and an immediate ban on hydraulic fracturing.
GARY (ANGRY) ANDERSON ( NATIONAL)
Infrastructure: Did not respond
Health: Attract new GPs to needy areas through existing scheme that provides real incentives for the first three years of practice in rural and regional areas.
Unemployment: Unemployment and job security are key concerns for all Australians, we all need to provide for our families with a roof over our heads and put food on the table.
The Illawarra has a 15 per cent unemployment rate across the board and there is a 22 per cent youth unemployment rate in the Highlands at present.
Therefore, if I get the job, one of my first priorities will be to reduce these rates. We will do this by making it easier for small business to employ people here in Throsby and give small business the confidence to invest and employ more workers.
Cost of living: Did not respond.
Schooling and job prospects: Education is something extremely close to my heart. University, while an invaluable part of our education system, is not for everyone. Students should be exposed to many career paths, including university attendance, vocational training and apprenticeships. There are great opportunities for students to enter into rewarding careers in regional Australia especially here in Throsby and they should be encouraged to pursue them. If I get the job, I will push for regional employers to receive incentives to give students work experience and gap year employment, fostering local career and job opportunities.
Higher education: As I have stated previously, education in all its forms is something very close to my heart. I believe that anyone who wants access higher education or any form of education for that matter should have access to the best educational services we can offer. The Coalition has announced additional funding to apprentices in Trade Support Loans providing real support to students as they complete their apprenticeship. If I get the job, I will push for a fairer Independent Youth Allowance so students here in Throsby have the opportunity to go to University.
Climate change: The environment is something close to my heart and I feel we should all play our part. If I get the job, the Coalition’s Direct Action Plan will mobilise an environmental workforce of 15,000 people known as the ‘‘Green Army’’ to do environment work across the country and help meet our target of a 5per cent reduction in emissions by 2020. It also provides on-the-job training and I want to ensure this benefits people in the Throsby electorate. This is opposed to the carbon tax, which we will abolish, which is making it harder for families to put food on the table by driving up the cost of living.
GLEN TURNER (KATTER’S AUSTRALIA PARTY)
Infrastructure: Did not respond
Health: Did not respond.
Unemployment: Did not respond.
Cost of living: Did not respond.
Schooling and job prospects: Did not respond.
Higher education: Did not respond.
Climate change: Did not respond
BRIAN BOULTON (DEMOCRATIC LABOR PARTY)
Infrastructure: Did not respond
Health: Did not respond.
Unemployment: Did not respond.
Cost of living: If elected; I will support the removal of the carbon tax which has negatively impacted our economy.
I would propose that first home buyers should be able to access their superannuation funds to fund up to 5 per cent of the total value of the home. The DLP proposes the establishment of "Child Care Co-operatives" in which parents and carers are trained and certified to be "child carers" and "on duty one day in five" in exchange for childcare services.
Schooling and job prospects: I believe that education should be relevant to the growing, changing community and workplace. I support an increase in the inclusion of TAFE courses in the high school curriculum in order to provide appropriate education for students who do not wish to go to university.
The DLP supports a voucher system of education funding where each student is allocated an amount but the student/parents can choose how to spend it. This allows parents and students to design their education the way that best suits them as they can use the vouchers to pay for a combination of school, TAFE or private courses.
Higher Education: I believe that reducing funding to higher education will be detrimental to the future of our society.
If elected, I would seek to encourage partnerships between universities and business along the lines of the old indenturing system where a business can contribute its training budget in return for a guaranteed placement during or on completion of study.
There would need to be some sort of tax relief to encourage business participation. This would help reduce the government’s financial burden for education at the same time as encouraging business to employ graduates.
Climate change: Did not respond