Age: 57

Family: Married 4 children

Where do you live? Canowindra

What do you do for a living? Accountant

How long have you lived in the Calare electorate? 4 Years

What is the best part of living in the Calare electorate? The affordable lifestyle an the pleasant manner of the people.

Why are you running for the seat of Calare? As a liberal demorat and supporting lower taxes and smaller government I believe we are the only party with an alternative budget that puts more funds in the pockets of pensioners and does not treat newstart recepients as the enemy.

What is your political experience? I have been part of the polictal process for 20 years as a member and run in four elections

The crippling effects of the drought continue to be felt by the electorate's farmers. What kinds of measures would you fight to install to drought-proof the region? Is the creation of more dams part of the solution, and if so, where should they be located? I would provide feed relief and water irrigation for farming. The creation of more dams are a drought measure to be supported but in the right locations and that is subject to local authority consultation.

Do you support the proposal to relocate immigrants to regional centres as a means of relieving pressure on metropolitan infrastructure and increasing the population of and diversity in country towns and cities? I support the measure but not at the expense of local jobs, I do support a lower immigration level to 70,000 per annum as opposed to 190,000 current level.

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Many fruit growers in the region lament the lack of seasonal workers to pick their crops because of restrictions with the current visas system. If elected, what changes would you push to make to alleviate this concern? The winegrowers provide a working system for the area but accomodation is often a deterent for seasonal workers. I will put forward the unemployed are utilised to assist the region by assisting with travel costs and accomodation.

How should the federal government increase the export potential of Calare's primary producers and manufacturers? Two responses to this question 1) wine growers continue with the WET tax subsidy at current levels and within 3 years remove the Wine excise tax from the product to ensure higher sales,

2) as to the other industries allow the local industry representatives to be a part of decision making in regards to industry improvement and agriculture technology advancements. Along with a general power subsidy to assist boost production and profits.

Do you agree with the idea of decentralising government departments to regional areas, and, if so, which departments would you like to see be relocated to the Calare electorate? I agree in principal to decentralisation, however I would prefer to support new campuses built for education and for education to be developed as an industry of the region and in particular to offer international students education and return to the region..

Will you push for federal funding to help fund a pipeline from Ben Chifley Dam to Bathurst to help conserve water? Yes I will support that program

What is the best way to improve links between Sydney and the Central West? Do you support a Bells Line Express Way? Do you support upgrading the Great Western Highway including tunneling through the Blue Mountains? Should the federal government favour (and fund) one approach over the other? If so which approach should be the priority? I do not support the tunneling proposal, I support the Bells Line Expressway for safety and better acces to the region

Neither Bill Shorten, Scott Morrison nor Michael McCormack have visited Calare in recent memory. Do the major parties and their leaders not care about Calare? Calare is seen as a safe National seat and the current member is not keen enough to have these leaders visit our region outside of election time. I as a local member will make so much noise they would have no choice but to provide funds and more support for the region. This region needs a change of member.

What infrastructure do you want to see built or fixed in the electorate over the next three years? As outlined earlier I want to see Calare as the education belt of NSW including an agriculture University as this area has so much to offer in the way of housing and services. I additionally want to see sporting health hubs developend to assist in combating mental health. The key to mental health is improving quality of lifestyle and promoting movement along with health professionals.

What is your stance on the future of coal mining for the region? My stance on Coal mining for export is to give some certanity to the industry, be that short term or long term but a decent parliamentary debate should be put forward to solve the issue. Neither of the parties are providing any clarrity.

Do you support renewable energy? If so how do you believe Calare is positioned to take advantage of the renewables market? I support a comprehensive energy plan where upon a small number of coal fired power stations are maintained untill such time renewable energy can demonstrate it can provide adequate base load power. Renewable technology is ecologocally sound it needs further development and our region is perfectly placed to be an renewable energy hub.

What policy do you have to reduce power bills? I support price pegging energy companies to ensure people are not disadvantaged by rising power prices. As a liberal democrate we believe the energy market should determine price, not enforced energy subsidies. We support loans to consumers to change to solar sources. This will assist with the market bringing down energy prices

What policies do you have to deal with climate change? Our party is not happy with the lack of defined results published to the community in straightforward language. We want to see an annual set of reports published similar to Consumer Price Index(Ecological assessment Index). The purpose to monitor annual results and to check on measures put forward.

We believe polution of air,water and deforrestation are highest issues to ecological change. Climate alone is not the main issue. Good ecological plans are important not which way parties stand on climate change. Renewables are a great start but truth in reporting will bring our communities together.

What are your plans to improve mental health services for the Calare electorate?

For the past 15 years all governments speak on this issue, yes convesation is better between indivduals but we will support the establishment of a no questions asked policy that allows individuls to access immediate care should it be needed. The care will be government funded and income relief will be supported while treatment is sought.

What do you think needs to be done to improve youth employment in the region?

As started earlier the development of a university hub will offer increased employment opportunities for youth but trainning and access to TAFE trainning will be supported, we will seek the development of an employers HECS style loan that facilities employers to take on additional staff to gauge the assistance additional staff employed can assist growth of their business.

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