Federal election 2022: Your guide to Bradfield candidates

Cost of living, national debt and climate change are among issues set to dominate election campaigning on the north shore. We speak to Bradfield candidates to find out what their priorities are:

Cost of living, climate change and healthcare are among the key issues set to dominate the election campaign on the upper north shore.

With the election date set, we take a look at candidates in Bradfield to find out who they are and what their priorities are for the region.

At present, the seat is comfortably held by Liberal MP Paul Fletcher who has served as the local member since 2009.

Mr Fletcher, who is contesting his sixth election, will face competition from candidates across the political divide including the United Australia Party, the Greens and independents.

Here is a list of confirmed candidates to date:

NICOLETTE BOELE (IND)

Who are you and why are you running?

My name is Nicolette Boele. I have lived in Bradfield 41 of my 51 years. I went to school and university here and now I am raising my family here in North Turramurra.

What are your top priorities?

I am standing as a community independent in this election because, in order to give our kids a better future, I want to restore integrity to politics and bolder action on climate change.

We need to make responsible, forward-thinking economic decisions to set up our economy to be fairer, competitive and productive in a low-carbon future.

I will use my more than 25 years’ real-world experience in responsible investment, clean energy and climate change policy to get

things done.

As an independent, I will be free to represent the values and priorities of the Bradfield electorate. I won’t be forced to toe the party line or be distracted by my own career

ambitions or internal party politics.

DAVID BRIGDEN (LABOR)

Bradfield Labor candidate David Brigden

A Bradfield local, David Brigden grew up in St. Ives, raised his family in Lindfield and now lives in Wahroonga.

As a father, David shares the aspirations of all parents to give their children and grandchildren a better future, particularly through protecting the environment, combating climate change and biodiversity loss, and ensuring a prosperous economy. David has the skills and experience to achieve these aspirations.

David has more than 40 years experience as an environment and planning law solicitor and lecturer, his clients having included government, corporate Australia and individuals.

A vote for David is a vote for the future of our children and our children’s children.

MARTIN COUSINS – THE GREENS

Who are you and why are you running?

Hello everyone! I am an engineer who has worked in the energy industry for the past 17 years.

I have been a Bradfield resident for 14 years and love the natural beauty of the electorate.

I am running to provide a progressive alternative to our current government, which has failed to deliver on so many fronts.

I am also running to draw attention to our lead Senate candidate, David Shoebridge, who has achieved so much in the NSW parliament over the past 11 years.

What are your top priorities?

• Real action on climate change – to avoid its worst impacts, but also because there are

enormous opportunities for Australia in a low-carbon world.

• A better deal for our young people – affordable housing and higher education, and better

work security and conditions.

• A government that does its job in aged care and pays its workers appropriately.

• A strong National Integrity Commission.

PAUL FLETCHER – LIBERAL PARTY

Who are you and why are you running?

I am running because I believe our experienced Liberal National team has the best plan for Australia to grow and to capture the economic opportunities in front of us; and because I am committed to keeping Australians safe in an international environment that is more dangerous than it has been for many decades. A strong economy means jobs for our young

people and the resources to support essential services.

In more than 12 years as Member for Bradfield, I have worked to deliver outcomes for our area. NorthConnex opened in 2020, with $412 million of commonwealth funding, connecting the M1 at Wahroonga and M2 at Pennant Hills.

Our area has seen significant funding commitments, including $61,000 of funding to Lifeline Harbour, to Hawkesbury in Gordon and substantial funding for Lindfield based counselling service KYDS.

As a Minister I have worked to make the internet safer for Australians. I’ve worked to deliver Western Sydney Airport and as arts Minister during the pandemic I delivered Covid-specific arts funding totalling some $500 million.

What are your top priorities?

Nationally, my first priority is a stronger economy, helping Australians build better lives for themselves and their families, and funding the vital services that Australians rely on.

My next priority is keeping Australians safe. The world is more dangerous, so we have increased defence spending to be more than 2 per cent of GDP, including our commitment in the 2022-23 Budget to almost $10 billion for stronger cyber defences.

Keeping Australians safe also means responding to the threat of climate change, and I strongly back our commitment for Australia to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

This requires a major transformation of our energy system, and our plan will achieve this through technology not taxes.

My third priority is continuing to be a respected voice for Bradfield, as part of a Liberal National Government. I look forward to continuing to assist constituents in resolving problems dealing with Government, and to working to maintain and improve the wonderful community we are privileged to enjoy in Bradfield.

ROB FLETCHER – UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY

Who are you and why are you running?

Rob is a Bradfield local. A quiet achiever who always puts his family first. His family, a daughter and two grandsons, are his reason ‘why’ in life and the motivation for entering the political arena.

Rob worked in the food industry R & D industrial chemist. He successfully changed careers to finance, working with financial planners, stockbrokers, and bullion brokers.

Rob answered the call to bring back representative government for quiet Australians and run for the seat of Bradfield.

What are your top priorities?

• Restoring the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship and the privacy of your medical and health information

• Repaying the government debt. The debt is unpayable with current Liberal/Labor policies.

• A UAP government will implement a 15% export licence fee on iron ore export, to repay the debt, secure lower interest rates and control inflation.

• The UAP will cap owner-occupied mortgages at 3% for 5 years. Securing the family home.

JANINE KITSON (INDEPENDENT)

Who are you and why are you running?

Bradfield residents want strong climate action for their children’s safety. The current local member and his party cannot deliver this because they accept large political donations from the fossil fuel and property industry.

The community is tired of being ignored. For decades they have called for stronger environmental protections for Bradfield as a place of national significance with its precious gardens, bushland suburbs, national parks and wildlife.

What are your top priorities?

1. Climate Emergency: Janine has initiated renewbradfield.energy to power Bradfield with an energy infrastructure that runs on renewables, is community-owned and creates local employment

2. Integrity: Janine supports The Accountability Round Table’s 21 recommendations for the rule of law, accountability and public trust

3. ABC: Janine supports the ABC Friends’ Ten Point Plan to ensure we keep a strong public broadcaster

TOM SELLERS (INDEPENDENT)

Who are you and why are you running?

My name is Tom Sellers and if elected, I would be the youngest person ever elected to the Australian parliament. This would be a great honour for me, and I would hope that it would re-engage younger Australians into the world of politics that they feel rejects them. Climate change and economic instability deeply concerns the people around me and they want to see solutions to the problems they see in front of them everyday.

What are your top priorities?

Practical Climate Solutions: Global warming is not just a domestic issue, but an international one as well. This is why Australia must harness the uranium stores underneath our land to help the world transition away from fossil fuels and provide another source of tax income to replace our reliance on fossil fuel sales.