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The price of keeping a roof over your head, energy flowing, food on the table and necessary care services are all rising faster than wages. Cost of living is complex and current global uncertainties may be beyond the direct control of the government. However there are many household budget components where governments can play a role.  We must continue to highlight and tackle the role climate change plays in the cost of living - food security through to energy to insurance costs are all impacted by the increasing rate and severity of climate disasters. 

• As well as driving down the use of fossil fuels and increasing our transition to renewable energy to combat climate change, there are other cost-of-living pressures where governments can provide some relief. These include:
• Government support for the up-front costs of household electrification
• A new national accord for housing that looks at more than only supply (see housing affordability) 
• Tackle price gouging by big companies including the introduction of a price commission.
• Explore mechanisms that government can utilise to control inflation rather than relying only on Reserve Bank interest rate rises which effectively transfer money from individuals to the banks: the continued expansion of affordable childcare, ensure Commonwealth Rent Assistance keeps pace with costs, review further PBS inclusions and Medicare improvements. 
• Immediately raise Job Seeker, Youth Allowance and related income support payments, as a top priority, as advised by the independent Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee.

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We cannot afford to compromise on a position of no new or expanded coal, oil and gas extraction. 

We need to understand that the three main pillars of climate action are reducing emissions and caring for country, and for people: their jobs, health, and security.

Reducing emissions:

• Electrifying Bean.  Canberra leads the nation in roof solar and electric cars, but they are still out of reach for many. By electrifying Bean we can ease the cost of living and take meaningful climate action. 
• No new gas and coal. We need to take advantage of our space, sun and wind. There is money to be made and we should be making it. We need a solid and practical plan to transition to renewables that maximises the economic opportunities.
• No nuclear. The economics for nuclear power do not stack up for Australia. It would not assist us in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 due to long development timelines and existing legislative barriers - running ageing coal-fired power plants until after 2040 and building reactors on seven sites would increase total carbon dioxide emissions by more than 2bn tonnes.
• We need integrity in carbon accounting: it’s an own goal to fudge the numbers on emissions. We need genuine reductions. 

Caring for people

• Increase the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax and resource royalties in line with other OECD nations, to fairly fund Australian health, education and investment. We want Australian resources to pay for Australian services,  investment in renewables, workforce transition, climate adaptation, disaster relief and preparedness.
• I will call for the development of a national transition plan, together with affected people, communities and industry, to assist workers to reskill in renewable industries, and support communities facing economic and social disruption.
• Health and wellbeing. We need to develop a national strategy to deal with climate-related health impacts such as heat stress, tropical diseases, storm asthma, and mental health. 

Caring for country

• Disaster preparedness. Bean residents are far too familiar with the impacts of fire and flood. We need to ensure our community is prepared for the next natural disaster, including more support for emergency workers and volunteers,  and grassroots infrastructure for community fire preparedness.
• Protecting the environment.  

I will back Federal legislation that supports our natural environment and biodiversity, and push for the establishment of a properly funded Environmental Protection Agency. We value our natural environment including local camping, swimming and fishing spots and recognise the great work done by our Landcare volunteers. We want our kids to keep enjoying our bush into the future.

Difference to the Greens: I have great respect and admiration for the community Independent model, and that is the pathway that I have been part of. I admire the integrity, accountability and community connection of the Independents movement, and the priority of loyalty to the community rather than a party, with all the split loyalties and compromise that can bring in reality. 

In terms of policy, I am committed to working with all sides of politics towards climate action and not letting perfect be the enemy of better. Some things are non-negotiable - no new coal, oil and gas - while others will need deliberate, staged-transition planning.

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Australians are the custodians of unique plants, birds and animals found nowhere else in the world that in many ways help define what it is to be Australian. This is why many Australians love camping, walking, fishing, and 4WDing in the Australian bush. Yet the Australian bush and its wildlife is disappearing at an alarming rate. Australia has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world.

In the 2022 election campaign Labor promised a full response to the Samuel Review, Environmental law reform and the establishment of an Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to provide data, monitoring and compliance with environmental protection laws. This would ensure 30 per cent of Australia’s land and sea areas are protected by 2030, that the law is properly enforced and penalties applied where the law has been contravened.

Labor has repeatedly failed to meet its own deadlines over its current term of government to deliver on its election promise to the Australian people. If elected, I will pressure the government of the day to fully implement these delayed environmental protections.

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We need a massive reset on housing in this country. Housing has become an investment but it should firstly be a human right. 

It’s not enough to only look at supply.  I am calling for a new national housing accord that looks at every mechanism available, including tax reform, for a staged approach towards affordable housing. 

This is an everything-on-the-table approach.  It needs to include:

• a wider range of housing options: family-sized apartments like in Europe, the capability to downsize within the same suburb, cooperative and intergenerational housing 
• consideration for domestic violence support, homelessness, and other vulnerabilities
• call for a Federal Housing Coordinator-General to integrate a coordinated approach to both private and social housing
• mechanisms for bringing the cost of construction down; prices have soared since covid
• the chronic shortage of workers across 12 construction trades; we need increased training and apprenticeships, as well as targeted migration
• more efficient and sustainable forms of construction, including pre-assembly and modular 
• ensure Commonwealth Rent Assistance keeps pace with costs
• monitor the Housing Australia Future Fund targets and advocate that 10 per cent of homes are built under the scheme as social or affordable housing
• all the tax levers.   

This new accord would need to balance all of these considerations and plan for the changes needed carefully over time to respect people’s investments and the different needs across generations.

Inaction is also a decision and young and vulnerable people of all ages are bearing the load. 

We must fix housing affordability.

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In Canberra around 30% of people live in either privately owned rental properties or social housing. I will work with the ACT Government to increase renters’ rights, and I support the establishment of a National Renters Protection Authority to build and enforce these rights. I fully support the changes that have already limited rent increases to once per year, closed loopholes allowing excessive rent hikes, and banned “no cause” evictions. I also welcome the recent change that enable renters who have experienced domestic or family violence to end their tenancy agreement at any time without having to pay a break lease fee.  

I will push for the introduction of standards for rental properties, including requirements for energy efficiency, safety, and basic amenities. This would ensure all rental homes are safe, healthy, and affordable to live in, addressing issues like poor insulation, faulty locks, or mould. Expanding programs that provide free energy assessments and supporting renters’ rights to make minor modifications for comfort and sustainability would also empower renters and improve their quality of life. By continuing to close loopholes, standardise rental applications, and support vulnerable groups, we can make renting in Canberra fairer and more secure for everyone.

I also support an immediate raise to the rate of Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

I am also keen to include rentals (and apartments) in any exploration of support for electrification, noting the impact of electrification on cost of living.

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Integrity is central to my policy platform. Transparency around decision making is essential to ensure trust in our Government and Public Service. The community expects nothing less, and this culture must be embedded throughout our public institutions. 

As you may know, many Independents on the crossbench are seeking increased integrity in politics and governance.  In particular increased protections for whistleblowers and legislation to combat misinformation and require truth in political advertising. As you may also know, the establishment of the National Anti Corruption Commission (NACC) came about after years of lobbying from the crossbench. More Independents in Parliament will increase the pressure being applied to the Government to bring about further necessary changes.

Other measures that could be enacted for greater transparency and accountability include the real-time reporting of all types of donation, and the publishing of Minister’s diaries for transparency around lobbying and influential individuals, so that real and potential conflicts of interest are spotlighted. 

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If elected and in the case of minority Government, if either side of politics came to me seeking my vote of confidence and supply I would look to support the Party that best aligns with the positions and policies that I have heard are of key importance to the people of Bean. At this point, Labor policies are more closely aligned. For my support, I would seek urgent action on the following key issues:  

1. Climate change: We need stronger action on climate change, stronger environmental protections, and more emphasis on the renewable energy transition. Climate change underpins many of the cost of living issues in our country, and also our national security.  It is vital we follow the science and not corporate and mining interests. In addition, I recognise the expertise and independence of the CSIRO analysis of nuclear technology in the Australian context; they state it is not a viable option in this country. Therefore, I will not support nuclear power in the form proposed by the LNP. If the expert analysis changes I will review that advice. 
2. Housing:  Housing reform must be bolder and braver - not just increasing supply but putting everything on the table, including tax reform, to solve housing affordability through a staged approach. 
3. APS:  I support a strong and independent public service. Outsourcing the public service to private contractors, as occurred under the LNP, has been financially costly – poor value for money –  and has undermined the strength of the APS.  For this reason I am unable to support the proposed blanket reduction of 36,000 public servants, which would also impact trades and business in Canberra. This is not negotiable. I support valid system changes that result in genuine efficiency gains but do not support ideological attacks on the public service. I am campaigning on greater transparency and integrity in Government. I will not support the Coalition if they won’t support Canberra.
4. Other urgent reforms: 

• Getting the gambling advertising bans passed.
• Passing the Nature Positive (Environmental Protection Australia) Bill.

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No. It’s a vote for accountability. Prime Ministers and governments like to refer to their ‘mandate’.  But if a government does not have a majority, they have to consult with the crossbench, which delivers stronger outcomes that reflect the views of the broader community. The narrative of instability is promoted by the major parties who want to lock independents out. This demonstrates how impactful independents are on the crossbench in holding government to account.

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Voting for the same means we will get the same. As a so-called ‘safe seat’ Bean is taken for granted by one side of politics and dismissed by the other (except when it comes to cutting the public service).  We’ve seen the power of David Pocock in the Senate. As an independent on the crossbench Senator Pocock has been able to spotlight issues and negotiate outcomes that would not have happened otherwise, including territory rights. Independents have also successfully pressured the government to establish the National Anti Corruption Commission, reduce HECS debt, address veteran suicide, and strengthen climate change legislation. With more pressure from the crossbench we can achieve even more.

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The Jessie Price campaign has been overwhelmingly funded by donations from ordinary people in our community who are keen to support change this election. 

Jessie’s campaign has now received total funding of $54,000 from Climate 200. C200 is a crowd-funding aggregator where donations from citizens all over Australia are then given out to community Independent campaigns who are committed to climate action, gender equity and integrity in politics. 

However, at the time of posting, she has received twice that amount from individual community donations, for which she is enormously grateful. 

Jessie will be declaring donations in full accordance with electoral law.

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I support a strong and independent public service. Outsourcing the public service to private contractors, as occurred under the LNP, has been financially costly – poor value for money - and has undermined the strength of the APS.  For this reason I do not support the proposed blanket reduction of 36,000 public servants. Our big services departments are in Bean - Services Australia and Social Services in Tuggeranong and Health and Aged Care in Woden - and cuts would also impact local trades and businesses. This is non-negotiable. I support valid system changes that result in genuine efficiency gains but not ideological attacks on the public service.

Meanwhile, the politicisation of senior appointments and contract employment has deskilled and compromised the strength and  independence of the public service.  I am campaigning for greater transparency and integrity in Government. I value evidence based policy and want public servants empowered to provide frank and fearless advice to the government of the day.  We must uphold these values to ensure we do not have another situation like Robodebt – a cascade of poor policy, compromised advice to a Government with an ideological agenda, flawed implementation resulting in a tragic outcome. 

These are things I will champion. We need to be able to trust in the expertise and integrity of our public service.

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There are 150 seats in parliament. Bean is just one. There are 35 community independents running in this critical election, including strong campaigns in the Liberal seats of Cowper, Wannon and Bradfield that have a good chance of winning. Vote for who you want to represent you.

I am seeking your first vote. With preferential voting you then allocate your preferences exactly where you want them to go. Minority government is nothing to be afraid of. Independent voices make parliament stronger.  

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Bulk-billing rates in the ACT are the among the lowest in Australia, and out of pocket costs are amongst the highest, while half of Canberrans live with chronic conditions. There is a shortage of general practitioners, specialists, and difficulty accessing mental health services.  

I acknowledge the work done by the Albanese government in lifting the 6-year freeze imposed by the LNP on Medicare indexation, and the tripling of the bulk-billing incentive.  However, here in the ACT we still have issues with access and cost.

It’s no accident the Government has recently announced that if re-elected, Bean will get a new Urgent Care Clinic.  This is a small indication the Government has recognised that Canberra has been neglected by the major parties and that a campaign by an Independent in Bean is bringing pressure to bear!  If elected, I will request a review by the Department of Health and Aged Care regarding the ACT classification as Modified Monash level 1 (MM1). Reclassifying ACT as a regional area (MM2) would enable greater access to various government incentives and supports, including increased bulk billing incentives.

As the Member for Bean, I would advocate for more action on supporting innovative models of primary health care delivery including nursing and allied health professionals working to their full scope of practice in multidisciplinary patient-centred care.

Visiting the dentist is a significant cost to the household budget.  Affordable and accessible dental care is crucial to addressing inequality and can affect everything from life expectancy to job prospects.  If elected, I will be looking at how to include dental into Medicare, to make basic dental care affordable for all Australians. 

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Despite significant reforms by both sides of Government since the Royal Commission Report released was in 2021, I am hearing ongoing concerns in the community: 

• difficulty in accessing respite care, 
• delays in the new Government single assessment process,
• workforce shortages and retention issues, and 
• concerns about changed financial contributions to care.

The Government reform process is ongoing with the new Support at Home program (replacing the Home Care Program) and the new Rights Based-Aged Care Act to commence in June this year.

Pressures are only going to increase in aged care with an increasing aging population; and as older Australians rightly expect to receive quality services in the place and model of their choice.

I am keen to hear any challenges for older Australians and their families as the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care are implemented and evaluated, to continue to work to improve aged care. 

We need to future-proof aged care to ensure the system is truly addressing the needs and preferences of older Australians, including funding models for older Australians to have control and choice over access to the aged care models of care of their choice, including new and innovative models.

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Mental health is a key priority for many voters in Bean, in line with recent polling for Mental Health Australia that showed 75% of people eligible to vote think the Government needs to do more. Experts say there is a massive underfunding of mental health and that increased investment would have huge benefit. In 2024, a staggering 1 in 5 people and 1 in 7 of young people had experienced a mental health disorder in the previous 12 months, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

We need to substantially increase access to free and high-quality mental health support, as well as address chronic underfunding, unmet demand and underlying causes – not least a critical mental health workforce shortage.

I welcome the election initiatives of both major parties and the Greens on new or expanded services, including Labor’s 1,200 training places, the Greens’ significant pledge to make mental health free under Medicare, and the LNP’s plan to restore the number of Medicare-subsidised mental health sessions from 10 to 20. I want an incoming government to improve our mental health system for all Australians in a holistic way, and ensure there is a skilled workforce to help.

If I am elected to represent you, I’ll explore all good initiatives on mental health and fight for them to be implemented. My positive policies to push the major parties on issues such as gambling reform, reforms to bulk billing in the ACT, housing affordability, cost of living, and climate change action will also contribute to better mental health in Bean.

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What is your policy to promote accessibility and inclusion in education and employment for people with a disability?

I support a human rights approach to promote accessibility and inclusion in education and employment for people with a disability. I will support government efforts that prioritise actions to minimise the risk of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, as well as investment in the disability workforce and advocacy space. I believe in the vision of the authors of the Disability Royal Commission’s Final Report that we need ‘an inclusive society that enables people with disability to live, learn, work and engage alongside people without disability’.

As your representative for Bean in the Federal Parliament, I will advocate for the voices of people with disability to be heard more clearly.  We need all levels of governments to work together more effectively and provide adequate funding to achieve this vision.

And what measures would Jessie support to improve the NDIS?

The NDIS was born from a hard-fought grass roots community-led campaign. It has become a lifeline for Australians living with disability and those caring for them, and also provides the Australian community with important economic benefits. 

I have loved ones within my own extended family with disability, and I know that people living with disability and advocates continue to work tirelessly to feed into the Albanese Government’s NDIS reform process.  Sadly, there has been disappointment and distress among many around the reform implementation. Consistent concerns I have heard of include: reforms have been rushed, the current reassessment process is unfair and harmful to participants, small businesses and workers are suffering, codesign is not nearly good enough, and people are anxious about lack of progress on promised Foundational Supports.

While the future sustainability of the Scheme is important, the Government cannot focus on cost containment and chasing down fraud in a way that harms the vast majority of people living with disability.

2025 is the time to get this onto the right track.  My priority will be to represent those living with disability in the Bean community and NDIS participants, their carers and service providers to rebuild trust in the reform implementation process through genuine codesign. As an Independent, I will seek to monitor community confidence in the positive progress of the NDIS reform roll-out and hold the Government to account for this.

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Tax reform is central to my policy platform as an Independent candidate.  Rebalancing our tax system to make more fair is one of my priorities.  This includes introducing a Natural Resources Tax - it seems nonsensical that HECs payments are higher than the Petroleum Resources Rent Tax for gas companies.

I support indexing income tax thresholds to help preserve the benefits of Labor’s tax cuts for low and middle income earners and to impose discipline on Governments who otherwise might rely on fiscal drag to balance the books at the expense of younger generations’ increased tax bills.    I also support exploring sensible changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax rules to ensure first home buyers are on a level playing field with investors in Australia’s housing market. Meanwhile, small businesses drive the ACT economy but are under enormous pressure due to rising costs. It is not fair that small businesses pay more tax that large corporations; this needs urgent reform.

We have an ageing population and a shrinking birth rate; we need to increase tax revenue beyond our heavy reliance on individual income tax to be able to maintain our services, infrastructure and Australian quality of life.

As you may be aware, many Independents on the crossbench are seeking similar changes to the tax system to achieve greater intergenerational equity in funding services essential to our quality of life such as childcare, education and training, aged care, and health care, as well as ensuring supports such as job-keeper are lifted above the poverty line. More Independents in Parliament will increase the pressure being applied to the Government to bring about these necessary changes. 

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With strong advocacy from Kooyong independent Monique Ryan the government has wiped $3.5 billion off the HECS debt of almost three million Australians. But it’s not enough. We need to change the way HECS is indexed, overhaul the Jobs Ready Graduate Scheme, and raise the rate of Youth Allowance.

I support expansion of fee free TAFE and vocational education including expansion of courses eligible for paid placements, given workforce shortages in aged care, disability and child care services as well as many trades, including in construction and renewables.

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Like others, I was shocked by the recent Four Corners investigation into childcare in Australia. We need to address affordability, accessibility, early childcare educator pay rates, and regulatory oversight, urgently.

In Canberra, childcare costs are notably high; as of 2022, the median weekly expense for 50 hours of centre-based care was $643, surpassing the national median by $78. This financial burden highlights the impact of childcare costs on the family budget.

I welcome the recent Albanese Government announcement of the Three-Day Guarantee, set to commence in January 2026. This policy provides families with three days of subsidised childcare per week, irrespective of their work or study status, replacing the previous activity test. It has been calculated that this initiative could save some families up to $11,400 annually on childcare fees. Additionally, the government plans a $5 billion investment to expand childcare services and increase educators' pay by 15%. I support these initiatives and will continue to push for increased funding measures that aim to alleviate financial pressures and improve accessibility to childcare for low-income households.  I will advocate for early childcare educators to be paid at a level that respects the work they do with our children.

Affordable childcare is also important in enabling women who want to work fulltime to be able to do so.  It is one way we can address the fact that it is so often women’s financial security which is impacted by part-time work and career breaks. 

I would also like us to explore other models of childcare – such as expanding the publicly funded primary school model to include early childcare. 

While most childcare providers are doing their best to care for our children, we know that some providers cut corners and are not providing care to the standard we would expect.  For this reason, I will also be looking to push for greater powers for the regulator, including a provision for unannounced audits.   I would also like to see this in other care models for similarly vulnerable people, such as aged care and disability support.

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I support a ban on gambling advertising being passed by Parliament as a matter of urgency.  Australians suffer the biggest gambling losses in the world – about $32 bn per year – and the ACT is at the top of the list.  Banning advertising is not banning placing a bet if that’s what you enjoy.  The ban aims to push back at the persistent online grooming of young people, and the danger of addiction that can ruin their lives and the lives of those around them.

Australia has been a world leader in driving down smoking rates – tobacco advertising was banned over 30 years ago because successive governments understood it was the right thing to do.  We need the same will to follow through to ban gambling advertising.

The hard work has been done through the Murphy Review and the Government had a Bill drafted.  Let’s get it back on the table and get this legislation passed! 

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I understand people’s concerns regarding the stability of our national defence, security and trade relationships as we see rapid escalation in world events and traditional relationships under strain including tariffs on Australian products. 

I support the need for strong defence policy, to protect our sovereignty.  In relation to AUKUS – this agreement is costing Australian taxpayers a significant amount, up to $368 bn till the mid-2050s.  However, the political landscape in the US has shifted significantly from when we signed the agreement and political allegiances also appear to have shifted.  I have a question for the Defence Minister, who is privy to confidential  intelligence briefings: does this agreement offer anything close to the security guarantees that were originally promised? Some experts are rightly concerned about the long-term reliability of AUKUS. I am calling for more openness and communication from the Australian government about the agreement and the management of geopolitical risks.

Climate change has been highlighted as the greatest risk to our security, regional stability and to safety, wellbeing and livelihoods by the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group (ASLCG - a group of former and current defence and security leaders, chaired by the former head of the Defence Force, Admiral Chris Barrie).  The advice from this eminent group is clear – climate change must be addressed as a clear and present risk – the link between climate policy and national and human security is inseparable. The UK’s premier security think tank, Chatham House released a Climate change risk assessment 2021 that is “frankly terrifying”, as Senator Pocock said about the ONI report when he was briefed on it. I am calling for the release of the ONI report, as well as the government’s plan for Australia’s security to meet the risks identified.

As the member for Bean, I will ensure this is at the forefront of the Government’s defence and security agenda.

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I am deeply concerned about the Gaza/Israel conflict with the breakdown of the ceasefire, the continuing and devastating loss of life and deteriorating situation for civilians and aid personnel in Gaza, and fears for the remaining Israeli hostages. 

Our government must have a humanitarian position that is consistent with international law, in language and in action. This includes condemning the deaths and injury of civilians, including health workers, and the withholding of humanitarian aid to Gaza.  UN-reported deaths in Gaza are now reportedly more than 51,000, including over 15,000 children, and those injured number over 116,000.

I am also deeply concerned about the next steps in Gaza – who will fund and carry out the rebuilding of Gaza, how will a deeply traumatised people be cared for and supported and what will self governance in Gaza look like. 

The bombing must stop and our government must call for a reinstatement of the ceasefire.  All people must be enabled to enjoy the right to live in peace and with agency in their own lives. We need to be able to have these charged and complex conversations respectfully and in good faith, recognising the traumatic history both peoples have endured.

International law must be respected and those who have committed war crimes must be held accountable.

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I have been very fortunate to work closely with a senior Ngunnawal Elder and Indigenous women leaders and community here in the ACT, working together to improve maternity services to be culturally safe and strengthening.

In Parliament I would seek to be part of changing a damaging narrative about Indigenous people to one of strength, creativity, resourcefulness, connectedness and deep and beneficial knowledge for all of us. We need to work to close the gap through genuinely changing the way we do business together, and that change needs to come from government. In Bean, we are lucky to have numerous important Indigenous sites, including rock paintings in Namadagi and the ancient axe grooves on Tuggeranong Hill. We need to elevate the incredible value of Indigenous history, knowledge and care of Country. This starts with how we teach Indigenous history in schools right through to the respect we pay in our Parliament to the symbols and traditions of Indigenous culture, and the meaningful inclusion of Indigenous perspectives on policy that affects Indigenous people and communities. This is what a yes vote would have brought, and as the representative for a jurisdiction which did vote yes, I would be proud to continue to champion.

All of us can be part of changing the narrative and improving our relationships, to have pride in living alongside and learning from the oldest continuous culture in the world.

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I was brought up in a Christian home (I’m a PK - ifykyk!) and am grateful for the values of kindness as a verb, inclusion, the inherent dignity and value of every person, compassion, justice and equity, that my upbringing gave me. I am committed to every person’s wellbeing and safety in the integrated and fullest expression of themselves, including gay, trans and intersex people. I support safe access to abortion services as necessary healthcare, and support women’s right to free, informed and supported choice about their own reproductive healthcare.

As a well-travelled journalist and as a midwife, I have had the genuine honour to journey closely with people from every background and experience during very profound circumstances (fleeing war; childbirth; life and death). I deeply value seeking connection, generosity of spirit and unconditional love for people’s humanity. 

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I support people’s right to the end of life care that they choose, including effective and well funded palliative care, and/or safe and supported access to Voluntary Assisted Dying. VAD enables a person to die with dignity, some measure of control, and reduced suffering. I do understand this is a difficult issue for many in our community, particularly from a cultural or religious perspective.  I believe any changes to the current legislation in our Territory need to be undertaken with care, wide consultation and evaluation of the way current legislation is working in our community.

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The 2021 Australian Census showed that 30% of all Australians were born overseas, and more than half have a parent born overseas. 

Migration is essential to Australia’s economy and society, particularly in addressing critical workforce shortages - we have significant gaps in healthcare, construction, and technology, where local labour supply is insufficient. With an aging population and declining birth rates, Australia relies on skilled migrants to sustain economic growth, drive innovation, and maintain essential services. Programs like the Skilled Independent Visa and employer-sponsored visas help attract highly trained professionals who contribute to Australia’s productivity and competitiveness on a global scale. 

Meanwhile, the rich diversity of culture that migration brings to Australia is a strength and enriches our communities. 

Migration must be planned alongside infrastructure development to ensure sustainable growth in housing, transport, and public services, and we need strategic investment to expand capacity and resource planning, including water, energy, and public utilities. Effective urban planning and investment in regional areas can help distribute population growth more evenly, and enhance liveability across the country.

By balancing migration with infrastructure and resource planning, Australia can harness the benefits of a diverse, skilled workforce while ensuring long-term sustainability and quality of life for us all.

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Australia’s policy on refugees and asylum seekers should prioritise dignity, fairness, and compliance with international obligations, including the Refugee Convention and human rights treaties. Mandatory and offshore detention should be ceased and a model of community-based processing should be considered. Not only should asylum seekers be treated with respect while their claims are assessed, onshore processing costs significantly less. Offshore detention in places like Nauru has been widely condemned for human rights abuses and mental health impacts - this is inconsistent with Australia’s commitment to humane treatment. Instead, asylum seekers should be housed in the community or in open reception centres with access to legal representation, healthcare, and social support, fostering integration and reducing harm.

Asylum seekers should have the right to work while their claims are processed, allowing them to contribute to society, maintain dignity, and reduce dependence on government support.  Any policy addressing asylum seekers with criminal convictions should line up with domestic and international legal frameworks, ensuring fair and proportionate responses rather than exile to offshore facilities. A rights-based approach would balance national security with humane treatment, recognising that asylum seekers deserve due process and the opportunity to rebuild their lives in safety.

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The ABC and the SBS are vital to Australia’s sense of national identity and social cohesion. At a time of ongoing upheaval in the media sector and the financial vulnerability of news outlets, especially in regional Australia, it is more important than ever that we have properly funded and editorially independent public broadcasters. I will lobby for adequate and sustainable funding for the ABC and SBS to ensure they can fulfil their mandates to the Australia public, including maintaining the 5 year funding cycle to provide much needed certainty.