Mackellar election: Jason Falinski Liberal MP takes swipe at independents over election funds
The independents and the Labor Party copped a serve during Liberal MP for Mackellar Jason Falinski’s federal election campaign launch.
Manly
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The sitting Liberal MP for Mackellar used his official federal election campaign launch to take a swipe at the so-called “teal” independents and Labor’s new housing policy on Sunday.
Jason Falinski, who has held the seat since winning the 2016 election, is vying for his third term in parliament.
About 300 supporters turned out at Cromer Golf Club to see his campaign officially kicked-off by Liberal Senator Jane Hume, the federal Superannuation, Financial Services, Digital Economy and Women’s Economic Security Minister.
Mr Falinski had a dig at his independent opponent Sophie Scamps, and Warringah MP Zali Steggall, whose campaigns are backed by funding from climate philanthropist and “cleantech investor” Simon Holmes a Court.
“Sophie Scamps won’t tell us where all the money’s coming from,” he said. “She won’t tell us what deal she’s had to do to get it.
“She won’t even tell us who she will support to be prime minister in the next parliament.”
Sen. Hume who described Mr Falinski as one of the hardest workers in parliament which included a report on housing affordability, also took a swipe at the independents, saying they always think they know best.
“A political party is the filter for the best ideas and can I tell you that Jason Falinski is one of the best filters there is,” she said.
Mr Falinski, who has a keen interest in home ownership issues, said he was constantly being told by people that their number one priority was to “have their shot at the Australian dream” of owning their own home.
He took a shot at Labor’s new housing policy, based on a “shared-equity” scheme where a Labor government would buy 30 or 40 per cent of the property with the buyer. That percentage would be owned by the government and could be bought back by the homeowner over time.
The Coalition government has already announced it would expand its first home buyers and Family Home Guarantee schemes.
“Today we find that the Labor Party has come up with yet another policy that allows them not to deal with the real issues of home ownership in Australia,” he told the audience.
“So apparently now, (a Labor) federal government will own your home, 40 per cent of it, or they’ll provide you with public housing, when all that most Australians what to be able to do is to buy their own home.”
Mr Falinski said home ownership leads to better childhood outcomes, reduced wealth inequality and democratic stability “because people believe they have a stake in our nation”.
He also told his supporters he worked to have proposed gas exploration stopped on the northern beaches; more funding to fix Wakehurst Parkway; supported net zero emissions and electric vehicles and; backed funding for national security including nuclear powered submarines.
At the same time as Mr Falinski’s launch Dr Scamps hosted an “election beats” concert at Avalon Beach, featuring local musical acts including Lime Cordiale and Angus and Julia Stone.
Dr Scamps said more than 1000 people, most aged between 18-35, turned out for the campaign-linked event in Dunbar Park.
“When I speak to young people they tell me they desperately want politicians to act on climate change,” she said.
“Many young people I speak to are also worried about the rising cost of housing and fear they will never be able to own their own home.
“While youth mental health is also another issue we must address in the next parliament,”
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