Hughes candidates’ policies and what they stand for in federal election

The election is only days away on May 21 and here is a comprehensive list of the Hughes candidates. Find out who they are, their promises and policies for the electorate and their last ditch pitch to voters.

The federal election will be held on Saturday, May 21 where Australia will decide on who should lead the country.

Hughes residents will flock to polling booths to cast their vote for the candidate they think is best to represent their views in Parliament.

Campaigns are in the final stretch and six politically diverse candidates are vying for the Hughes seat currently held by Craig Kelly.

Since the last election in 2019 the country has dealt with the devastating impacts of Covid, bushfires and floods.

The main suburbs in Hughes include Alfords Point, Bangor, Barden Ridge, Bundeena, Como, Engadine, Grays Point, Heathcote, Illawong, Kareela, Kirrawee, Lucas Heights, Maianbar, Menai, Moorebank, Sandy Point, Sutherland (part), Waterfall and Wattle Grove.

The candidates putting up their hands to represent the people of Hughes have revealed their top priorities should they get elected.

Find out who they are, their promises and policies for the electorate and their last ditch pitch to voters.

Georgia Steele is running as an independent in the seat of Hughes in the 2022 federal election.

Georgia Steele, Independent

Georgia Steele was born in Sutherland Hospital, when her parents were living on the banks of the Woronora River. Her family then moved to regional NSW so her parents could realise their dream of working for themselves. Ms Steele spent her teen years and went to university in our nation’s capital, as well as two years living and studying in Japan.

“From there, it was back to Sydney, where I began my career in law,” she said. “I practised as a corporate and commercial litigator for 15 years, across four continents, before returning home to the Sutherland Shire to raise my children. I have called the beautiful, sleepy village of Como home for almost a decade. But a few years ago, I started waking up in the early hours of the morning, worrying about my kids’ future.”

Ms Steele said she stood for real action on climate change and a robust, sustainable economy.

“An urgent but orderly transition to renewables will set Australia on a path to becoming a renewable energy superpower,” she said. “I stand for support for small businesses in their recovery from the pandemic; and I stand to address corruption in politics.

“We desperately need a federal corruption commission, to deal with money in politics, and truth in political advertising laws.

“I have lost count of the conversations I’ve had with locals who are tired of political games, who want a return to the sensible centre, and a representative who will hold the major parties to account.”

Ms Steele said when she set out on this adventure in October, she wanted to ensure she ran a campaign that was enough to rival the major parties, to prove she was a safe, capable pair of hands.

“Since then, our campaign has attracted so many truly impressive, passionate volunteers - around 400 of them. We continue to be powered by our community,” she said.

“If elected, I will be expert and research-led. I will be consultative, community-driven and collaborative. I will continue to be accessible and available to my constituents. I will answer your questions, listen, and take your concerns directly to Canberra.

“Independents only have one boss - their communities. In Hughes, if we elect a major party candidate, we’d be electing a newbie, someone who’s never been elected to office. I could be elected to a powerful cross-bench, and the people of Hughes could have a representative who can have an immediate and ongoing impact. All we have to do is choose something different, and vote independent.”

Jenny Ware, Liberal

Jenny Ware is Sutherland Shire born and bred with strong lifelong ties to the Hughes community. From running a small business, to volunteering in the disability sector, local preschool and P&C when her boys were younger she has always been passionate about assisting our local community.

“ I believe my community service as well as my professional experience as a planning and environment lawyer, and personal experience as a mum equips me with the attributes, knowledge and skills to best serve the people of Hughes in the national parliament,” she said.

Ms Ware said the people of Hughes told her their concerns are around ensuring a stable government with strong economic growth to support their businesses, families and communities.

“I will advocate for better infrastructure such as local sporting facilities and roads. I will also fight to preserve the beautiful local natural environment for our future generations,” she said.

“Vote for me, Jenny Ware Liberal for Hughes. I will be a sensible voice and a safe pair of hands in Hughes. I will listen and respond to your issues. I am one of you.”

Linda Seymour, Independent
Linda Seymour has been a resident in Hughes for more than 20 years, having raised her family in the area. She has run her own successful business for more than 25 years working on Olympics and major infrastructure projects all over the world.

“In 2020 I helped form the community group ‘We Are Hughes’,” she said. “We sought to find out what the people wanted in a representative and what are the concerns of the community.

“ I am standing as an independent to deliver to the Hughes community the trustworthy and active local member that people were looking for and to elevate our voice at a federal level.

“As the Hughes MP I will advocate for a robust Federal Integrity Commission, action on climate change, protection of our natural environment, serious political donation reform, a code of conduct for politicians and staff, improvements in bureaucratic processes for small businesses and community organisations, strengthening support for aged Care, Medicare and the NDIS and equitable funding for education.”

She said as an independent, she would commit to working in good faith with whoever forms government and raising the voices of the people of Hughes.

“For two years, I have walked the talk, uniting people with a common cause for better outcomes, better politics, and better representation,” she said. “I am standing on principle and a set of values. To win on principle will send the biggest message to not only Hughes but the whole of Australia.”

Peter Thompson, The Greens

Peter Thompson grew up in the Sutherland Shire and feels a great need to preserve the beautiful, natural environment here for our children and grandchildren.

“I shall ensure the Shire is fully resourced with new cycleways and electric vehicle charging stations,” he said.

“To protect the environment of Australia and globally we need true and immediate climate action right.”

Mr Thompson said 100-year events are now happening every two to three years and extinctions are happening at an alarming rate. He said the Greens had a comprehensive, fully costed 'Just Transition ' away from polluting fossil fuels to a happy, sustainable future.

“Our plan is to cut emissions by at least 75 percent by 2030 using clean, green renewable energy and transitioning the workforce by creating thousands of new jobs in the renewable and related sectors,” Mr Thompson said.

“Both dental and mental health care are now proving too costly for the average person. The Greens have already ensured that dental care for children is free. They will now extend that to adults under Medicare cover. With two years of Covid there has been an explosion of community anxiety and a huge increase in the need for counselling services. The Greens will now provide free counselling under Medicare cover.”

Mr Thompson said there was a huge housing and homelessness crisis engulfing Australia and rents are skyrocketing.

“The Greens will build a million new homes in both major cities and the regions. They will then sell them to people under a super-cheap shared equity, mortgage scheme. The maximum price in Sydney or Melbourne will be 300,000 dollars,” he said.

“The Greens will finance these initiatives by making the huge multi-nationals and billionaires pay their rightful, lawful tax like you and I and everybody else! Let’s vote for a creative, sustainable future for our children and the planet.”

Leader of the United Australia Party Craig Kelly is the incumbent Hughes MP.

Craig Kelly, United Australia Party (Incumbent)

Craig Kelly’s UAP profile says he was born in Sydney in 1963. His family owned a furniture company, where he worked after finishing high school. He worked in the family business until he decided to run for Parliament in 2010. Craig is married and with his wife has two children to whom he is intensely devoted. It is not only for their future that he is fighting, but every single Australian. He joined the Liberal Party and was elected as the Member for Hughes.

Mr Kelly has been proudly serving as the MP for the division of Hughes since 2010. Disillusioned by the Liberal Party during his time in office, he resigned from the party and sat as an independent before joining the United Australia Party in August of 2021. Since then, he has served as the party leader under chairman Clive Palmer.

The pandemic has deeply eroded his faith in Australia’s government, as he saw, in real time, our freedoms being ripped away one by one. Mr Kelly said he couldn’t stand idly by and allow the country to slip into tyranny, so he joined the one party that could put a stop to the atrocities we are witnessing every day.

“An immediate priority for the United Australia Party on being elected to government, or securing the balance of power, will be to ban vaccine passports and end mandates.” he said on his website. “We’ll legislate to expressly prohibit any form of vaccine discrimination or segregation, and will give everyone their freedom back.”

Riley Campbell, Labor

Riley Campbell is a former carer and frontline local government worker who will stand up for those in the Hughes electorate, according to his profile on the Labor Party website. As a carer for his grandfather and grandmother, Riley saw first-hand the heartbreaking neglect in the aged care sector. He will work with an Albanese Labor Government to bring dignity and respect to aged care workers and residents.

Riley knows the pressures of the rise in cost of living in Hughes. Prices are going up but wages are staying the same. Riley Campbell and Labor will work to create secure local jobs by investing in TAFE, renewables, and local manufacturing to get wages growing again. Riley Campbell will help build a better future in Hughes.

Narelle Seymour is running in the Hughes electorate for One Nation. The only photo of Narelle Seymour is on the how to vote card on the One Nation website.

Narelle Seymour, One Nation

The One Nation website says Narelle Seymour was born in Southport where her father served in the RAAF and her mother was a nurse.

Narelle raised her four children here in NSW before starting her career in the aged care sector. Narelle has been an active volunteer in the NSW SES for 13 years, assisting the community in some of the state’s darkest and most trying times.

“While it’s not the easiest of jobs working in aged care, I’ve always been drawn to the service of caring for others. Each of my aged care patients has made wonderful contributions to this country and I see it as my privilege to assist them through this stage of their lives.”

Narelle believes all Australians deserve equality, no matter what age, gender, or culture - everyone deserves a fair go.