Wentworth 2018: Your guide to Dr Kerryn Phelps’s policies

THE Wentworth by-election is on this Saturday with a large field of candidates. Our complete guide is the only place to get in depth coverage of local and national policies of all 16 candidates. Here is everything you need to know about independent Dr Kerryn Phelps’s and how she compares to other candidates.

Independent candidate Dr Kerryn Phelps says climate change is real and climate deniers are this generation’s flat-earthers.

THE Wentworth by-election is on this Saturday with a large field of candidates. Our complete guide is the only place to get in depth coverage of local and national policies of all 16 candidates. Here is everything you need to know about independent Dr Kerryn Phelps’s and how she compares to other candidates.

SEE OUR INTERACTIVE DOWN BELOW

BIOGRAPHY

DR KERRYN Phelps AM is a doctor, businesswoman, health communicator, public health and civil rights advocate, author and media commentator.

She says as a City of Sydney Councillor, she brings a deep understanding of the interests of residents and businesses and the importance of creating and preserving environments that promote healthy communities.

Kerryn has founded and operated several multidisciplinary medical practices and says her own clinical practice involves finding solutions to complex health problems.

She says that for 30 years, Kerryn has used her communication skills to elevate health literacy as a pioneer in health media across multiple media platforms.

As the first female President of the Australian Medical Association, Kerryn says she has long been a strong advocate on health policy at State and Federal level.

Kerryn says she has been at the forefront of the struggle for LGBTQI inclusion and equality for two decades and was a leading voice in the recent ‘Yes’ campaign for marriage equality.

Q&A

1. Do you think we need a new public secondary school in the Wentworth electorate?

Yes. Parents in this electorate deserve more choice when it comes to education and Rose Bay secondary college is overcrowded and under-resourced.

2. What are your thoughts on the current rate of development?

Residents in Wentworth are rightly angry that many parts of the electorate are overcrowded and overdeveloped, while key infrastructure investment in transport, health and education has not kept up.

3. Do you support the proposed development in the national park at South Head?

South Head is a site of historical significance and natural beauty and the proposed development must not go ahead.

4. Should we make changes to negative gearing?

I don’t support changes to negative gearing because it may have an adverse effect on rental supply but we need to look at other ways to improve housing affordability, particularly for first home buyers.

What are the key elements of your tax policy?

I support lowering the company tax rate to make us globally competitive but only if all companies, including multinationals, pay their fair share of tax and I maintain support for the current dividend imputation system and certainty for superannuation.

5. Do you have a stance on corporate political donations?

Supporting political parties is a fundamental part of democracy however foreign donations and those from fossil fuel companies should be banned, with other donations capped to limit undue donor influence.

6. What is the most important health related issue?

We need a secure and viable future for Medicare and a simplification of the ridiculously complicated private health insurance system, including the creeping increase in “exclusions” which trap many patients at a vulnerable time in their lives.

7. What support should be given to businesses?

It takes a lot of guts to set up a small business and government policy needs to do whatever it can to allow that business to prosper.

8. What emphasis should placed on funding to the arts?

I believe significant government assistance is required to nurture new talent, established artists and major projects.

9. How should Australia proceed with regards to immigration?

We need to proceed carefully and get the balance right so that we don’t further clog our major cities.

10. Should we change how we process asylum seekers?

We need faster processing and we need to treat asylum seekers on Manus and Nauru with far more humanity and fast track resettlement.

11. What action should be taken with regard to climate change?

Climate change is real and climate deniers are this generation’s flat-earthers; the need for action on climate change is urgent, including fast-tracking investment in renewables.

12. Do you support live animal export?

No. It is barbaric.

13. Do you think we need to tackle law and order differently?

Everyone wants a peaceful community and I applaud the work of police and emergency services in keeping our community safe

14. How should we continue to move towards reconciliation with indigenous people?

I am a strong advocate for closing the gap in health outcomes and social disadvantage and I also support the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

■ Simply click on your chosen candidate’s name below or on their photograph in our interactive and all will be revealed.

Dave Sharma / Tim Murray / Dominic WY Kanak / Angela Vithoulkas / Tony Robinson / Steve Georgantis / Shayne Higson / Ben Forsyth / Barry Keldoulis / Andrea Leong / Deb Boyle / Robert Callanan / Sam Gunning / Licia Heath / Kay Dunne