Policies
There are a wide variety of policy positions I hold, of many sizes and scale. I value them all but accept that some are perhaps more long-term goals, so the conversation about them will start now. I also have some shorter-term positions I think are more achievable.
I think it is important to understand sometimes to get real change, we will need to have some uncomfortable conversations.
Direct Ballot Initiatives
We frequently see that the government of the day, whether Liberal or Labor, represents the will of big business, industry, and other special interest groups over that of the Australian public. The majority of people were in favour of marriage equality long before the 2017 plebiscite.
So how do we bring the government more in line with the interests of the people?
I believe one of the biggest first steps in taking back some control in our democracy could come in the form of the Direct Ballot Initiative (DBI). As seen in various jurisdictions in the United States, a DBI would add an issue of importance to our electoral ballots for voters to express their will on the given legislative subject. The DBI will be independent of who you vote for, with whomever forms government being bound to enforce the people’s will, even if they politically oppose it.
One potential way to choose what becomes a DBI would be via a parliamentary petition. An example of which would be former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s parliamentary petition for a Royal Commission, which resulted in only a Senate Inquiry. A DBI could add the choice for a Royal Commission to the next federal electoral ballot, for the Australian voters to decide.
Key Points:
- Issues of importance added to ballot for voters to decide.
Social Welfare Reforms
i: Centrelink reforms to end poverty in Australia
With the growth of the Gig Economy, insecure work, the increasing casualisation of the workforce, and the ever-growing automation of industries and adoption of artificial intelligence, millions of Australians face an uncertain financial future.
Centrelink is a woefully inadequate social safety net, that requires major reforms. Payment rates need to be lifted above the poverty line, and Mutual Obligations needs to be removed. The Disability Support Pension needs to be overhauled to remove the “fully diagnosed, treated, and stabilised” requirement, which demonstrates that legislators do not understand how disability works. And replace the 20-point system requirement with proper medical reviews/evidence.
All of which are steps towards a Universal Basic Income (UBI). A non-means tested income payment for all Australians aged 18 and over, to cover the basic necessities of life, and end poverty in Australia forever. Not only is it socially beneficial, but it also builds a strong consumer base for Australian businesses, ensuring stable cashflow throughout the economy. With a supplemented income, many Australians can choose to work less and spend more time with their families and friends, without a loss in quality of life. I believe this will lead to more job vacancies, higher wages, and better work/life balances for workers. Long-term, a UBI will become necessary for a functional economy as automation replaces the need for workers.
Such drastic changes would be vehemently opposed without significant evidence of the benefits, which is why I would propose a trial run in the Corio electorate. As of 2024, three of the top ten most disadvantaged suburbs of Victoria are in the Corio electorate, including the number one most disadvantaged suburb of Norlane. I cannot imagine a better location to test the benefits of such reforms.
Key Points:
- Centrelink reforms.
- Raise the rate.
- Remove Mutual Obligations.
- Overhaul the DSP.
- Trial runs of reforms in Corio electorate.
ii: Expand Medicare into a National Healthcare Service (NHS)
The introduction of Medicare in 1984 by the Hawke Labor Government was a great first step in ensuring the health of Australians. However, Medicare has limits in coverage, and rather than be expanded to cover the gaps, successive LNP Governments have repeated tried to chip away at it, in an attempt to privatise Healthcare in Australia. In Australia, the federal government funds Medicare which covers your visits to your General Practitioner (GP), and the state governments fund Hospitals. Medicare needs to be expanded into universal National Healthcare Service, that covers everything including Mental, Dental, Specialist Care, and Hospitals. And expansion of regional and rural services.
This National Healthcare Service would be publicly funded, and free at the point of service for those seeking care. The NHS would be independently audited to determine operational costs (including staffing, administration, maintenance, equipment and facility upgrades, consumables pricing, etc.) with discretionary spending to allow for unforeseeable events. This would form the baseline for a minimum funding amount, that no government can cut or spend less than. This would ensure a fully function healthcare system that leaves no Australian behind, and forces nobody to choose between their finances and their health.
Key Points:
- Mental and Dental coverage in Medicare.
- Create National Healthcare Service.
iii: Universal Public Education
Australia deserves a world class Public Education System, that provides a solid foundation for our children in Primary and Secondary education and ensures that no Australian be left behind without access to Tertiary, Further Education and Retraining opportunities. Our public education system needs to be expanded and infrastructure upgraded to close the divide between public and private, and city and country. To put an end to the systemic disadvantage that exists between the ‘Haves’ and the ‘Have-Nots’ and ensure equality of opportunity for all. Previous generations received tertiary education for free, then slapped a price-tag on it for everyone who came after them. All public education in Australia should be free.
Our education system should focus on the best outcomes for students, both academically and for personal growth and welfare. We should encourage a love of learning and put in place systems to continually provide access to knowledge, and institutions of education. An educated and well-informed public is vital for the survival of our Democracy.
Key Points:
- Free public education for all.
- Equal opportunity in education.
- Encourage people to never stop learning.
iv: Universal Social Housing
As a part of ending poverty forever, I want to end homelessness in Australia. Housing should be considered a human right, however our legislation and regulation favours residential housing more as an investment. Housing affordability is in crisis, with many of us priced out of the market altogether. And the rising cost of rent makes saving for a deposit virtually impossible. The Australian Dream has become a fantasy.
I want to expand public housing into Universal Social Housing, to ensure that everyone in Australia has a roof over their heads. To legislate a higher standard quality of housing, with modernised heating, cooling, insulation, and appliances. To introduce rent control measures to ensure greater access and affordability to housing. Contributing to the housing crisis is the lack of a middle ground between single family dwellings and high-density apartment blocks; and real estate developers typically build single bedroom units as they have the highest return on investment. To expand availability, we should be building new medium density residential structures, whilst maintaining suitable living spaces for larger families, and communal parklands and green spaces. And ban foreign and corporate ownership of residential properties.
Private home ownership will still be possible with social housing, and long term will become more affordable as investment housing will become far less profitable.
Key Points:
- End homelessness in Australia.
- Raise housing standards.
- Medium density housing.
- Ban foreign and corporate ownership of residential properties.
- Rent control.
Legalise, Regulate, and Tax recreational cannabis
The ‘War on Drugs’ has been an objective failure. It is a waste of time and policing resources, that could be better used against violent and more socially harmful behaviours. I want to decriminalise all drugs and treat substance abuse as a Health issue and not a criminal one. Recreational Cannabis should be legalised, regulated, and taxed along the same ways Alcohol and Tobacco are now. Recreational cannabis opens up all manner of business opportunities for related goods and services. Cannabis tourism can become a viable economic lifeline for many Australian towns and cities.
With legalisation, all non-violent drug offenders would be released from incarceration, and all previous non-violent drug offences would be dropped and expunged from records. Rehabilitation services would be expanded for those with substance abuse issues, with a focus on harm minimisation towards the individual and community.
Greens Senator David Shoebridge introduced the Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023 to the Senate which would establish the legislative framework for adult recreational cannabis use in Australia, the Senate rejected it in 2024. If the legislature wants evidence of the benefits before considering national legalisation, I will propose a trial of cannabis legalisation within the Corio electorate, with the proceeds of taxation going to local public health and education funding.
Key Points:
- Legalise, Tax, and Regulate.
- Build cannabis industries.
- Decriminalise drugs, treat substance abuse as a health issue.
- Trial of cannabis legalisation in Corio electorate.
Climate Action
i: Taking bigger action and setting greater goals
Climate Change is perhaps the greatest threat to Human Civilisation, as it is, and needs to be acted on as such. Government is the only institution on the planet with the resources to address this challenge. There is no single solution, so there are many policies to adopt. There are many opportunities for us to benefit from saving our collective future.
Net Zero by 2050 is not good enough, net zero is only one step on the path of combatting climate change and we are still putting it off for another generation. With how Carbon Dioxide interacts with and rises in the atmosphere, even if the whole world went carbon neutral tomorrow, the effects of climate change would continue to worsen for decades to come.
It’s not enough to go net zero, we have to start fixing the damage that’s already been done, we need to go carbon negative. We need to be able to balance our emissions within the natural Earth cycles.
We also need to strengthen environmental protections and enforcements; and put an end to commercial old growth deforestation. Also expand conservation efforts for, and invest in new, ecological preservation of the Australian landscape, islands, and waterways.
The Government has the responsibility to build and subsidise national recycling infrastructure, to fulfil the need where otherwise commercially unprofitable. And regulate packaging to be recyclable or biodegradable.
Key Points:
- Climate Action Now.
- Net Zero sooner, carbon negative as long-term goal.
- National Recycling Infrastructure and Regulation.
ii: National Solar Renewables Electricity Grid
Australia is in a unique position globally, we have the solar potential that other nation’s would dream of, and the geographic space to build vast infrastructure. We have the potential to be the Saudi Arabia of solar electricity, we could become an economic powerhouse. A global capital of clean, renewable electricity, and green economic exports.
We need to build a National Solar Renewables Electricity Grid, to be a legislated publicly owned asset forever. We need to phase out Fossil Fuels from our economy, end the subsidies for dying industries, and ensure training and transitional opportunities for the displaced workforce.
Along with this will be the electrification of government, industry & commerce. Electric vehicles are the future of personal transportation, and the government should lead the way in making the transition.
With a large enough electricity grid, we could export electricity through undersea cables to Indonesia, island hopping up to Asia, and gradually spread across to Europe, Africa, and the Americas. And help bring about a faster global decarbonisation and ensure peace through mutual prosperity.
We could have clean, renewable electricity so abundantly available that the thought of charging any Australian household or business for it would be laughable. How many energy intensive industries would consider moving to Australia for free electricity?
Key Points:
- Build Solar Renewable Grid.
- Electrify our Infrastructure.
- Export Green Power.
Ending Corruption in Government
i: National Anti-Corruption Commission reform
Labor introduced the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) which was an important step towards tackling corruption in the federal government, however the NACC is not without problems.
By default, all investigations and hearings are private. Corruption is kept secret from the public unless exceptional circumstances make it in the public’s interest. This needs to change. Justice not only needs to be done, but it also needs to be seen being done.
Governments justify keeping secrets with the excuse that publication would ‘lose the public’s trust’, but how can we trust a government that needs to do that?
Key Points:
- Make the NACC hearings public.
ii: Getting money out of politics
Big Money donations from corporate and industry interests have some of the most corrupting influence over the politics of modern Australia. The major parties will drop important policies to avoid risking losing their donor money, and even give the appearance of ‘pay for play’ by awarding their donors with lucrative government contracts, often skipping the bidding process. Many former MPs even secure jobs within industries they were previously meant to regulate, this ‘revolving-door’ rewards corrupt behaviour.
I personally will refuse to accept donations from corporations and industry lobbyists. I will work to ban corporate donations, ensure public funding for elections, and end the revolving-door of corruption by banning MPs from employment in the private sectors they regulated. Parliamentary work should be seen as a public service, not a career stepping stone.
Key Points:
- Ban corporate and industry donations to politicians/parties.
- Public funding of elections.
- End revolving-door politics.
Tax the Rich
The Australian taxation system is far too reliant on personal income tax, not only does this put a huge tax burden on the Australian public as a workforce, but it also allows the wealthiest individuals and corporations to exploit loopholes to avoid paying tax altogether. In Australia, individuals pay tax on every dollar we earn above the tax-free threshold, however businesses only pay tax on their profits and not revenue. Businesses can earn billions of dollars in revenue but use accounting tricks and offshore tax havens to never realise profits in Australia, and therefore never pay tax.
Not only do they avoid paying any tax, but some also even claim refunds for losses despite making profits. As we’ve seen with the Jobkeeper rorts, they will claim benefits not meant for them to the tunes of millions of dollars, and the government will allow then to keep their ill-gotten gains with no clawback methods even attempted. Yet when Centrelink overpays the neediest amongst us, the government will harass us to get it back, to the point of literally driving people to suicide.
We have one set of rules for the rich, and another set of rules for the poor. This needs to change.
We need to overhaul our tax system, make business pay tax on revenue, add new ultra-wealth tax brackets, close the loopholes and workarounds, and fund the Australian Taxation Office to audit and investigate tax evasion and fraud from the biggest offenders in the country. To ensure everyone pays their fair share.
Key Points:
- Make the rich pay their fair share.
- Equity between rich and poor.
Cancel AUKUS
The AUKUS deal between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States is quite possibly the worst international arrangement that Australia has ever entered into; it essentially surrenders what little sovereignty that Australia has left. It ties our security to the United States for decades to come and threatens and antagonises our largest trading partner of China, which threatens our economic prosperity.
Pillar One of AUKUS has Australia spending $368 billion (a third of a trillion dollars) for UP TO eight nuclear-powered submarines, but without guaranteed delivery of even one. The fine print has half a dozen reasons whereby the US president can unilaterally say no, including the claim that it would degrade their own capacity. They are not just building subs for us; they are also building them for themselves and they are behind schedule. If the US president decides it is more important for the US to have the submarine in their fleet, we will get nothing. Which is quite possible with the attitude of ‘America First’.
Pillar Two involves greater interoperability and capacity building between the nations of AUKUS, which sounds good on the surface but again, it is the fine print that gets us. Any technology that Australia develops in this deal by default belongs to the US. If hypothetically there is a technological breakthrough made by Australian scientists in Australian laboratories using Australian funding, the US would have sole ownership and benefit from it.
This is what the Liberal National Coalition signed us up for, and what Labor has expanded; it now includes us taking and storing the nuclear waste of the US and UK on our soil. We need to cancel this deal, divert the unspent funding towards a focus on building and bettering our own nation, and begin thinking and acting independently as a sovereign nation. Not just a colony of a foreign empire.
Key Points:
- Cancel the ridiculous AUKUS arrangement that surrenders our sovereignty.
- Divert unspent funds towards building and bettering our nation.
- Australia to think and act independently in our own interests.
Reconciliation & Republic
I believe that a true reconciliation with our Indigenous Australians is not only vital for the survival of the First Nation’s people and cultures, but I also see it as a crucial step on the road to Australia becoming an Independent Republic. Declaring independence from the Commonwealth will be the ultimate form of self-determination for Australia, to stand on our own we must first know who we are, and what we stand for. We are a multicultural society and yet our native cultures have been often overlooked at best, or perhaps even actively exterminated at worse.
My vision for reconciliation would involve integrating more traditional culture into mainstream Australian culture. I realise I cannot determine what reconciliation means for Indigenous Australians, so the conversation needs to include them, and value their perspectives.
Key Points:
- Reconcile our past to build an inclusive future.
Bill of Rights
Australia has no legislated Bill of Rights; we have Common Law protections. In the US the Government cannot restrict the people’s Freedom of Speech. In Australia our politicians can and do sue their critics for defamation if they say something mean about them on social media. Our politicians can sue the ABC, our public broadcaster, to stop them from reporting alleged crimes. Our politicians have legislated to allow Police to access our devices and social media accounts, take control of them, then change, delete, and even add to them. Our Police could potentially frame us for crimes, and it would be legal.
A Bill of Rights that defines and protects our innate human rights is fundamentally important to the future of Australian Democracy. Free Speech that cannot be suppressed by litigious MPs. Privacy that Police cannot ignore on a whim. Ownership of personal data that corporations cannot harvest, buy, and sell. Rights to Healthcare, Housing, Education, and Quality of Life. It is time for Australia to have our human rights legislated and protected by Law.
Key Points:
- Federally legislated Bill of Rights.
While these are some of my main policies I intend to run on, I will not limit myself to these and will continue to expand my issues of importance. I will take a reasoned approach to all matters, with my focus being on the best possible outcomes for all.
For the First Australians before us, and the Next Australians after.