Federal Election 2019: Robertson candidates address local issues

FEDERAL Robertson candidates have been put under the spotlight this week with the election just over a week away. Here’s how they answered 6 questions about key local issues.

Robertson candidates under the spotlight.

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FEDERAL Robertson candidates have been put under the spotlight this week with the election just over a week away.

The Express identified six issues ranging from fast rail to palliative care and domestic violence, and sought comments from each candidate.

Here’s how they answered.

Judy Singer. Picture: Sue Graham

JUDY SINGER, SUSTAINABLE AUSTRALIA PARTY

1. Do you support a fast rail service linking the Central Coast to Sydney?

Many people from regional areas are forced to move to capital cities to find work, weakening regional economies and causing congestion and overpopulation in cities.

Sustainable Australia recognises that fast rail can benefit regions economically and ease city congestion however fast rail decisions must include careful planning to avoid any unforeseen negative impacts like overdevelopment and diminished amenity for people in regions connected by a fast rail network.

2. How would you improve access to tertiary education or vocational training?

Major barriers for Australian students wanting to access tertiary or vocational education is the cost of courses and increases in living expenses, particularly here on the Central Coast, as many local students must either commute long distances to Sydney or Newcastle or relocate to another region to study. Sustainable Australia believes tertiary education in approved TAFE and University science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses should be free and that all other TAFE and University tertiary education fees should be reduced by 50 per cent to ensure attaining a world class tertiary or vocational education is affordable for Australian students.

3. Whether to provide for a palliative care hospice on the Central Coast?

It is a failure by our government that Central Coast families with terminally ill or elderly loved ones must worry about whether they can access the vital, specialist assistance and services they require from palliative and end of life carers. Pressure on Central Coast health services is going to increase because the government has plans to rapidly grow population in this region by at least 75,000 people over the next 20 years and Sustainable Australia wants all levels of government to have sensible plans in place to alleviate this pressure, not only on palliative care services, but services across all health specialities.

4. Permitting seismic testing in the pursuit of natural gas exploration off the coast of the Central Coast?

Instead of permitting mining companies to pursue exploration for natural gas off the Central Coast, Australia should be researching and developing renewable energy technologies, adopting energy efficiency initiatives and investing in environmental education and the protection, maintenance and ecological restoration of our natural environment. Sustainable Australia believes Australia should contribute to staying below a 1.5 degree global temperature rise compared to pre-industrial levels by lowering our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per cent and up to 100 per cent below 2000 levels by 2050.

5. How to remedy the coast’s high levels of youth unemployment?

Sustainable Australia would like to see governments reward and encourage investment in our factories, farms and small businesses, and re-diversify our economy to create secure jobs and a resilient economy, rather than propping up unsustainable overinvestment in property speculation. Governments should also encourage investment in education and skills training to make it easier for young people to gain the skills and attributes they want, and the

economy needs, to gain secure employment in a diverse job market.

6. How to remedy the rates of domestic violence, which are the highest in NSW?

People from all walks of life can experience domestic violence and it is essential that families have safe avenues available to them to report abuse and the Justice system is sufficiently resourced to deal with perpetrators of crime appropriately. Education campaigns that raise awareness and inspire people to call out and speak up against domestic violence should be an ongoing funding priority of governments.

Robert Marks. Picture: Sue Graham

ROBERT MARKS, UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY

1. Do you support a fast rail service linking the Central Coast to Sydney?

Yes, also a Ferry system of ocean grade jet cats, we were the first party to talk about this. and have worked out a way to fund it!

2. How would you improve access to tertiary education or vocational training?

Prioritise local citizens before offshore foreign applicant students, increase funding, get ride of HECS for local students, make institutions liable for course content so that its relevant to real world industry demands, some courses are obsolete and still being offered.

3. Whether to provide for a palliative care hospice on the Central Coast?

Critical we are 100,000 beds short and not prepared for the 450,000 nation wide Dementia patients about to hit the system.

4. Permitting seismic testing in the pursuit of natural gas exploration off the coast of the Central Coast?

No, plenty of reserves already identified just need to be better manned to promote Australian’s interest, Japan currently makes more money off out natural gas than we do. I had lunch with the head of GE two years ago and he confided in me that the Americans say behind our back that we are the “next Saudi Arabia of natural gas just don’t tell the Aussies”.

5. How to remedy the coast’s high levels of youth unemployment?

Encourage business to operate and head quarter their operations here through tax incentives and purpose built technology and commerce business hubs and parks.

6. How to remedy the rates of domestic violence, which are the highest in NSW?

The number of women's’ shelters needs to be doubled as a minimum, access needs to be 24/7 not just 9 to 5 weekdays, 24 hour special police response unit with community centres providing family counselling and education programs as part of a mandatory restitution process not just police charges and AVO’s etc with follow up visits to family. Encourage a “neighbourhood watch” type community response where locals help each other address the pressures of daily life.

David Abrahams. Picture: Sue Graham

DAVID ABRAHAMS, INDEPENDENT

1. Do you support a fast rail service linking the Central Coast to Sydney?

The Central Coast should take the lead on becoming the first stage of an east coast very fast train as we have the most to gain. This requires a co-ordinated ‘sales’ effort from our federal and state MPs as well as Councillors and development agencies. Instead of sitting around waiting for someone in Sydney or Canberra to actually do something I would as your MP be the chief advocate to sell this project to treasury.

2. How would you improve access to tertiary education or vocational training?

I have a clear plan for a Central Coast University, head quartered in Gosford with sub campuses in Woy Woy and The Entrance. Vastly better than another campus of Newcastle University our own university should use a Poly Tech model that provides trade and deep local industry involvement.

3. Whether to provide for a palliative care hospice on the Central Coast?

I support the community championed palliative care centre as advocated by Elsie’s Retreat and the Lions Clubs. A specialist caring centre close to but not part of Gosford Hospital.

4. Permitting seismic testing in the pursuit of natural gas exploration off the coast of the Central Coast?

I have championed this push to cancel Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 that proposes 1000 square kilometres of explosive testing followed by oil and gas rigs. I have been calling in vein for the Federal Labor & Liberal parties and their candidates to join the Council and State Government in opposing this assault on our fishing, surfing diving and coastal environment. Both the major parties have failed to join the community in condemning the PEP11 plans, instead hiding behind a the advisory board NOPSEMA for protection. Should this proceed against the will of the Central Coast communities it will lock in decades of exploration offshore extraction that would degrade and destroy our the waterways that we so love.

5. How to remedy the coast’s high levels of youth unemployment?

Youth employment and education can only be addressed with our own University / TAFE. We have such high rates because we have underfunded campuses of Newcastle & Sydney tertiary institutions that treat the coast youth as second class compared to their core locations. As co-founder of the local group Youth Connections I was stunned when the federal 2014 budget decimated the industry engagement and employment programs that had placed 1000s of young people in work. Without our own University and TAFE we will always be at the whim of Federal and State government cuts that destroy employment programs with the swipe of a pen.

6. How to remedy the rates of domestic violence, which are the highest in NSW?

We must create a domestic violence task force with ambitious goals to radically change the culture in personal relationships. The local task force must be well resourced and be able to act to educate, accelerate shelter constructions, initiate prosecutions and compel agencies to work together to create a compassionate domestic culture within a decade.

Lucy Wicks. Picture: Jane Dempster/The Australian.

LUCY WICKS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

1. Do you support a fast rail service linking the Central Coast to Sydney?

The Coalition Government is co-funding a business case being conducted by the NSW Government to explore options for upgrading the trail line between Sydney and Newcastle with the aim of reducing travel time from three hours to two hours.

The business case is investigating straightening the tracks and infrastructure including track deviations and realignments. The report is expected to be delivered in the next few months.

2. How would you improve access to tertiary education or vocational training?

The Morrison Government announced $18 million in the Budget for a university campus in Gosford, supporting my vision for Gosford of becoming a world-class educational and medical precinct. This will complement the new $85 million Central Coast Medical School and Research Institute currently being built in the grounds of Gosford Hospital. I am so excited for the future of Gosford and the educational facilities that will be available to our children in the not too distant future.

The Morrison Government has invested $525 million into increased skills funding creating up to 80,000 new apprentices and $50 million to create 10 new industry training hubs. I am pleased to say the Gosford region has been chosen as one of those 10. The region selected for the training hubs will also be eligible for the Commonwealth Scholarships program which supports young people entering the VET sector. Successful candidates will be eligible for up to $17,500 in funding.

3. Whether to provide for a palliative care hospice on the Central Coast?

I support providing top quality palliative care on the Central Coast, but we also need to work with the Central Coast Local Health District which believed there was a greater need for palliative care nurses rather than a hospice. I was pleased to support the NSW Government’s funding plans announced earlier this year which will see eight additional palliative care nurses here on the Central Coast to ensure patients can access the care they need. This plan is part of the State Government’s commitment to invest $45 million over four years to boost the number of palliative care nurses in NSW by 100.

4. Permitting seismic testing in the pursuit of natural gas exploration off the coast of the Central Coast?

I understand the concerns raised about the risks of offshore exploration. I appreciate that the NSW coast and surrounding region deserves strong protection. I care as much as anyone about our precious marine life.

Australia has one of the most robust regulatory regimes for offshore oil and gas in the world. National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) Australia’s independent, expert regulator has stringent assessment processes. No petroleum activity, including seismic surveys, can occur without a valid petroleum title and an Environment Plan accepted by NOPSEMA.

Oil and gas activities in Commonwealth waters, including extensive seismic activity and large scale production in offshore Victoria and Western Australia, have been effectively regulated for many decades. Exploration for oil and gas in offshore New South Wales including the collection of extensive geophysical data has occurred safely for over 30 years. I will continue to have discussions with the Department and the Minister for Resources on this important issue.

5. How to remedy the coast’s high levels of youth unemployment?

The Coalition Government is committed to creating more and better opportunities for young people to secure a job. In 2017-18 more than 100,000 young people got a job, the largest amount in Australia’s history. With our investment of $525 million into increased skill funding, we will be able to build on our record and create more jobs and the right skills for the next generation. While the youth unemployment is 12.7 per cent, still higher than the national average of 11.3 per cent, it has come down. The Morrison Government has demonstrated its commitment to helping young people in the Central Coast region find jobs by earmarking Gosford as one of 10 locations across the nation to get a new industry training hub. Anything we can do as a Government to address youth unemployment is good news for our young Coasties.

6. How to remedy the rates of domestic violence, which are the highest in NSW?

The Morrison Government is determined to keep women and children on the Central Coast safe at home, safe on our streets and safe online. Since 2013, we have invested $840 million on programs that directly support women and children who are victims of, or at risk of, domestic, family and sexual violence. With this investment we are: improving frontline services like 1800RESPECT; improving the legal system; ensuring better, safer use of technology; and driving cultural change. We have introduced reforms to the family law system to stop domestic violence victims being cross-examined by perpetrators.

We are investing $78 million to build or buy new emergency shelters for families affected by domestic violence and to fund programs that keep women and children safe in their homes. We have introduced a new minimum standard of 5 days unpaid family and domestic violence leave. To tackle online abuse, we have expanded the role of the eSafety Commissioner. This office now also takes responsibility for online safety issues affecting adults, including victims of image-based abuse.

Since 2013, we have also granted over 7,046 visas to vulnerable women and children through the Women at Risk program, which specifically helps women targeted because of their gender. And we have also introduced a new directive to prevent the entry to Australia of people convicted of violent crimes against women or children, regardless of the nation in which the offence occurred or the sentence that was handed down.

Cath Connor

CATH CONNOR, THE GREENS

1. Do you support a fast rail service linking the Central Coast to Sydney?

We support the development of a fast rail network. This would be as tremendous advantage to the Central Coast, and particularly for our long-suffering commuters. We understand that our topography is likely to create some engineering challenges — that a fast train may require a tunnel under the Cowan Rise, a new bridge and that the location of the station may present new issues for Coast residents. As this is developed, it would need community consultation and the concurrent development of an integrated public transport system connected to the fast rail hub.

2. How would you improve access to tertiary education or vocational training?

The Greens will fund unlimited free TAFE and undergraduate university for everyone. We will restore funding to our TAFE Colleges which provided such a vital and world-class vocational education to all sectors of our community; and would actively encourage new university campuses on the coast so our young people don’t have to move away to gain tertiary qualifications.

3. Whether to provide for a palliative care hospice on the Central Coast?

The Central Coast is desperately in need of a Palliative Care Hospice. Any of us may find ourselves in need of the specialised care that would be provided in a dedicated unit close to our family and friends.

4. Permitting seismic testing in the pursuit of natural gas exploration off the coast of the Central Coast?

The Greens strongly oppose seismic testing off our coast. It damages the entire marine ecosystem and food chain in pursuit of oil and gas at a time when the scientists are saying very loudly and clearly that we must transition away from fossil fuels if we are to hand our children a liveable planet.

5. How to remedy the coast’s high levels of youth unemployment?

We know an increasing use of automated technology will have a huge impact on many industries and we need to start planning for it now, creating the jobs of the future, so no one is left behind. All levels of government need to promote the Coast as the ideal setting for clean green industries of the future, a Coastal Silicon Valley as it were, with the appropriate accessible training opportunities.

6. How to remedy the rates of domestic violence, which are the highest in NSW?

With two women killed each week so far this year, this is an urgent cultural problem which requires a long-term commitment from successive governments — of the magnitude currently given to the threat of terrorism. The Greens would push for culturally appropriate publicity and educational campaigns to bring about a change in the way violence is viewed in our

society, including strategies to educate men that violence against women is a crime. We would support education from early primary school onwards in nonviolent conflict resolution, and the meaning and importance of consent.

Sean Young

SEAN YOUNG, ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY

1. Do you support a fast rail service linking the Central Coast to Sydney?

When we consult the community, experts and stakeholders if it was found to be cost effective and better for the environment, thus wildlife and society, we would support the fast rail service.

2. How would you improve access to tertiary education or vocational training?

We would apply our core values; kindness, equality, rationality and non violence to evaluate how funding could be allocated to the issue. Animal Justice Party has some policies on education. Sean Bremner says “Many aspects of our education system implicitly mould student values, starting at the canteen and extending into science classes. The AJP will formulate programs across all areas to foster kindness and nonviolence towards all sentient beings.” One of animal justice party’s policy points on education is; to teach students basic nutritional science and convey the discoveries of recent years about the welfare, nutritional and environmental benefits of plant based eating.

3. Whether to provide for a palliative care hospice on the Central Coast?

When faced with this issue we seek guidance from the community, experts and stakeholders to come to a rational solution that will actually address the issue. When elected AJP will push for equality and safety in areas such as gun use, violence, health, education and mental health.

4. Permitting seismic testing in the pursuit of natural gas exploration off the coast of the Central Coast?

We have a policy against seismic testing because it is cruel to sea life particular whales and dolphins. It is also devastating to the environment and the consequences would cost the community more in the long run. We support renewable and sustainable energy. There is a lot of money to be made from reliable renewable energy thus seismic testing and oil rigs are not necessary for the economy.

5. How to remedy the coast’s high levels of youth unemployment?

Our platform is animal protection because no other party prioritises protecting animals from the extreme cruelty our society inflicts on them. We don’t have a specific policy on this issue but we would use our core values to decide how to address this issue. We always adhere to our core values of kindness, equality, rationality and non violence when making decisions in parliament. If elected and presented with this issue we would seek guidance from the community, experts and stakeholders to come to a rational solution that will actually address the underlying issues.

6. How to remedy the rates of domestic violence, which are the highest in NSW?

More funding needs to be allocated to the issue and Animal Justice Party would evaluate how this could be done in a sustainable way for the community. Our education policy focuses on implementing programs to reduce violence in our society. This would help reduce domestic violence. When elected AJP will push for equality and safety in areas such as gun use, violence, health, education and mental health.

Anne Charlton. Picture: Sue Graham

ANNE CHARLTON, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

1. Do you support a fast rail service linking the Central Coast to Sydney?

Yes. This would be a game-changer for our economy and lifestyle on the Central Coast. People tell me they are waiting for some real action to improve our trains. At the last election, Lucy Wicks promised to bring us free wi-fi at every station and continuous mobile coverage — but neither has been delivered. At this election she is saying she will deliver a “business case” for fast rail. I think voters are entitled to be sceptical when Lucy Wicks and the Liberals make promises like these.

2. How would you improve access to tertiary education or vocational training?

I have announced that Labor, if elected, will build a $133 million uncapped university campus in the Gosford CBD. This will be a once in a generation investment so students will be able to study and train for a range of careers — right here on the Central Coast. We will also fund an additional $10 million for an upgraded TAFE Foyer with student accommodation.

3. Whether to provide for a palliative care hospice on the Central Coast?

It is unacceptable the Central Coast is the largest region in New South Wales without a stand-alone palliative care hospice. Local patients who are suffering from terminal illnesses or who need comfortable end-of-life care are often forced to travel to Newcastle or Sydney to receive adequate care. That’s why Labor and I have committed $20 million to build new palliative care hospice with 20 beds on the Central Coast. I want to credit the tireless campaign undertaken by the Elsie’s Retreat Committee and the late Anna Edgell. They collected more than 10,000 signed petitions and became an indispensable voice for dignity and care in our community. Labor has listened to that voice.

4. Permitting seismic testing in the pursuit of natural gas exploration off the coast of the Central Coast?

Australia’s precious marine life and our unique coastal environments must be protected. I am committed to working with the community to make sure this happens. If we are elected, Labor will immediately introduce measures to make sure seismic exploration does not occur where whale life could be adversely affected. We will commission a review — one open to community consultation — into how we can strengthen the controls applied to all seismic exploration activities. The results of that review process will then be made public at its conclusion. The review will also look at ways to improve the ongoing public transparency in seismic testing controls.

5. How to remedy the coast’s high levels of youth unemployment?

Under Lucy Wicks and Scott Morrison, youth unemployment has almost doubled to 18.9 per cent. Apprenticeships on the Coast have dropped by almost 40 per cent. Labor will put an end to the neglect of TAFE and we will create 100,000 new apprenticeships across the country, allowing more of our young people to train for the skilled jobs of the future and creating new paths for those wanting to retrain.

Labor will also ensure that one in ten workers on Commonwealth building projects will be local apprentices, which means our local young people get a leg up to learn a trade and get a job.

6. How to remedy the rates of domestic violence, which are the highest in NSW?

As a former social worker, I have seen first-hand that family violence is a national emergency — one that destroys and ends lives every week. Labor has made a historic commitment to supporting victims and helping them when they need it most to rebuild their lives. We will legislate ten days paid domestic violence leave — something the Liberals will not do — because no one should have to choose between leaving a violent relationship and keeping their job. As part of a set of new measures, we will fund better specialist family Centrelink services around the country and commit $60 million for additional practical support packages for families escaping violence.