NEIL REILLY (ALP)
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Infrastructure: The NBN. The Illawarra’s unique location makes us one of the most attractive places to live, work and play. With proper connectivity to the rest of the world, we will achieve better healthcare outcomes, improved education options and a universal appeal to small-footprint, high-profit businesses to operate in our area. We can no longer deny ourselves and our children the bright and prosperous future we deserve. To stop this with inferior technology would be a crime against our future.
Health: Did not respond.
Unemployment: We will: Allow small businesses an upfront tax deduction on equipment purchases up to $10,000.
Support Skills Development and Apprenticeships: Students in years 9-12 will receive access to industry-relevant skills at Trade Training Centres and I’ll support better funding of TAFE Services.
A cash boost for apprentices, a $6000 grant to buy new tools, rather than the burden of a $20,000 loan. Protect TAFE funding from state government cuts. Anyone who loses their job will get a "return to work plan" within two days of registering with an employment services provider, guaranteeing them access to further training.
Cost of living: Did not respond.
Schooling and job prospects: Skills are best learnt through a combination of on- and off-the-job training, particularly for young people who need to earn while they’re still learning.
Trade Training Centres in our high schools, a Labor initiative, satisfies this criterion. In order for our apprenticeship and trainee system to survive, we need to focus on why we are training people – for jobs, not simply as a tick-box exercise. The Prime Minister’s recent announcement for apprentice grants and clear pathways forms a clear platform for the bright future of our next generation of tradespeople.
Higher education: Funding to universities increased under Labor. There will be no decrease in funding, the increases will be slightly less to help pay for the biggest change to schools funding in nearly 50 years.
FACT No student currently enrolled at university will be worse off as a result of changes to the Start-up Scholarships.
FACT Overall funding for universities will continue to grow at record levels.
FACT Student income support has increased by 78per cent under Labor.
FACT More uni students can now access Youth Allowance than ever before.
FACT Funding for higher education remains at the highest levels in Australia’s history
Climate change: Did not respond
ANN SUDMALIS (LIBERAL)
Infrastructure: At the outset, there are many crucial pieces of infrastructure for the Illawarra. If I’m asked to single out one vital project for the Gilmore electorate, however, it would have to be the duplication of the Princes Highway between Nowra and Batemans Bay. Then the construction of a third crossing over Shoalhaven River. Without a third bridge, Nowra will become the worst freight and passenger bottleneck in southern NSW by 2020 and that will affect all of Gilmore. These are upgrades I’m committed to fighting for, and Malcolm Turnbull and I will be making an exciting announcement about the future of the Princes Highway today.
Health: Health is a big issue to everyone, and a strong local member needs to take these concerns seriously. The first step is to get direct feedback from those who are most impacted by policy changes. In response to concerns about bulk billing and health costs, I hosted Shadow Minister for Health, Peter Dutton in Gilmore on Thursday to talk directly with the community about the Coalition’s Plan for Health. The Coalition has always recognised the need for health services in Gilmore and that’s why the medical and nurses schools were established, and I would work with my state colleagues to review the method of calculating doctor shortages and areas of need, as this sets the number of doctors able to work in any given area.
Unemployment: The Coalition has committed to a national Green Army rollout, to give young people the opportunity to train, work and earn real wages. A strong economy where small businesses feel confident to invest in their business and grow, is the greatest support for job opportunities. Small businesses are the growth hub and need to be able invest in employee capital, increasing the number employed and the security of their positions.
One of the greatest impacts on business costs has been electricity, a direct consequence of the carbon tax. Repealing this tax improves the bottom line for business as well as reducing the enormous burden red tape.
Cost of living: The Master Builders Association says that the carbon tax adds around $3800 to the the cost of building the average family home. That’s just one reason why we will abolish this bad tax. Under Labor, childcare costs have soared by up to $22 a day while the childcare rebate has been reduced from $8179 per year to $7500. More and more local families aren’t working 9 to 5 and need childcare that is more affordable, and childcare that meets their working hours. If elected, I’ll work hard to ensure that every family in Gilmore has access to good, affordable childcare.
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: Did not respond.
Climate change: We will abolish the carbon tax – no ifs, no buts, the carbon tax will go. 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 has already committed to four Green Army projects in Gilmore, employing 40 local young people. 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 property. There should be no damage to the underground aquifers or other water resources.
LYNDAL HARRIS - (PALMER UNITED 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
TERRY BARRATT (GREENS)
Infrastructure: Did not respond.
Health: Health goes far beyond just visiting the doctor.
We will invest an extra $664 million in Medicare. This money will reverse cuts to Medicare made by Labor and supported by the Coalition; and invest $450 million in rural hospitals, $200 million in a Rural Health Infrastructure Fund and $20 million in grants for health services.
The Greens secured $4 billion last year for Denticare. So, 10,725 families in Gilmore will be able to take their kids to the dentist as easily as going to the GP. We won’t stop there - we intend to deliver high-quality dental care to everyone.
We will invest $550 million in rural mental health services.
Unemployment: The Greens have their eyes firmly fixed on an innovative and low-carbon economy. For strong jobs growth we will move rapidly to 100 per cent renewable energy throughout Australia.
To this end we will support local investment in solar energy infrastructure including local manufacture of component parts for a smarter, more skilled labour force we will increase funding for our Universities and TAFE. We will support small business by expanding tax breaks, strengthening the role of the national Small Business Commissioner and strengthening competition policy. We will also retain the NBN roll-out.
Cost of living: Did not respond.
Schooling and job prospects: Research shows that every public $1 invested in tertiary education grows the economy by $26 and tax revenues by $8. So, the government’s university funding cuts of $2.3billion don’t make economic sense and don’t add up given its own forecasted shortage of 2.8million higher skilled qualifications needed by industry by 2025.
To meet this we are seeking a 10per cent increase in university per student base funding. To provide the high-level skills and workforce development so vital to our economic future, the Greens will deliver an extra $400million per year for TAFE. The funding to cover these commitments will come from cuts in the mining industry tax concessions.
Higher education: Australia ranks near the bottom of the OECD countries for public investment in universities. Both major parties have failed us.
We will increase university base funding per student by 10per cent which will reverse this situation. We’ll also reverse Labor’s $2.3billion higher education budget cuts.
To provide the high-level skills and workforce development so vital to our economic future, the Greens will deliver an extra $400million per year for TAFE.
The Greens will ensure TAFE is the preferred funded provider of courses where it can supply those courses.
Funds will come from abolition of the $12billion plus of tax concessions enjoyed by the mining industry.
Climate change: Record-breaking weather events are due to increased atmospheric CO2. The carbon price, which has driven CO2 down by 8per cent in the past 12 months, is needed to fund a clean energy program to deliver a sustainable economy, create jobs and drive down costs. If the carbon price is abolished, it will be an end to this clean energy future. CSG is a highly potent climate warming gas. As well as its impact on our land, waterways and our health, leakage of CSG, due to fracking, makes this a risky business. The Greens oppose CSG extraction from our biodiverse and agriculturally rich landscapes and water supply catchments. The exploration licence covering the South Coast must be cancelled.
STEVE RYAN (CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS)
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