Brenden Hatton, United Australia Party
1. Why are you standing for election?
I have been frustrated by the lack of action for many years from the major parties and feel very strongly about engaging in the political arena to get investment back into the community to give our people and my family the best future within Australia and as our country competes in the world. I truly believe that the United Australia Party has the policies, like Zonal Taxation, Provisional Tax Reform, the Farmers’ fund and on-shore mineral processing, that are exactly what the Durack region requires to allow our state to invest in its people and to prosper.
2. What can we do to improve regional education?
I feel one of the key drivers for regional education improvement is population growth. I feel confident the incentives mentioned above will be a drawcard for decentralisation from our cities back into rural areas increasing skilled professionals, jobs, investment and supporting the expansion of education facilities.
3. What is your party’s plan to improve access to appropriate and comprehensive health care for those living in regional and remote areas?
As above, by increasing demand through population growth we increase the need for better regional facilities. Investment is created by demand and local development will encourage governments to invest in the services required. A more wealthy local and national economy will enable those higher levels of local investment to be achieved.
The United Australia Party’s main focus is investing in Australia to achieve such change.
4. Should the government allow the sale of Australian agricultural land and water to foreign buyers?
No “What Australia grows, grows Australia!”
We need our farms domestically owned so profits go back into Australia. Foreign owner profits will only go offshore and give Australia no benefit. To date our previous governments have failed to acknowledge the error of their ways in this area.
5.If you would like voters to remember just one thing about you, what would that be?
If we change nothing, nothing changes. So, we need to change the way we have always voted. The United Australia Party and I am focused on driving change and making sure we put Australia and its people first by investing in our farmers and our people and protecting our assets from foreign hands.
Melissa Price, Liberal Party
1. Why are you standing for election?
I am a proud West Australian, born and bred in regional WA and I understand the issues faced by people living in remote, rural and regional areas like my electorate — the largest in Australia.
I have been your Federal Liberal representative in Parliament since 2013 and am as committed as ever to improving liveability and service delivery in Durack. I have worked hard to achieve very positive results, including fighting to save the Moora Residential College with a grant of $8.7m. I’m focused on results, like the recent sporting infrastructure grants for the Yerecoin Tennis Club, Westonia Golf Club, Bolgart Sports Club and funding for Three Springs Early Childhood Learning Centre.
I am proud that I have secured over $1 billion in roads funding and recently, I fought for $70 million to upgrade the Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network to improve its connectivity and safety. Since 2013 Durack has had over 90 mobile telephone towers/bases installed. But there is still more to do.
2. What can we do to improve regional education?
Regional education is a passion of mine and WA regional students deserve the same level of education as those in the city. I will continue to fight for better regional education outcomes as I fought to save the School of the Air; the Moora Residential College; and obtained $3 million for a new Pilbara Universities Centre; and $1.8 million to expand the Geraldton Universities Centre.
3. What is your party’s plan to improve access to appropriate and comprehensive health care for those living in regional and remote areas?
The Federal Government is contributing record investment in state health funding across hospital funding, Medicare services and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Since coming into Government, the Coalition has helped improve the health of Australians by subsidising almost $10 billion worth of new medicines, and we are now making on average one new or amended PBS listing every single day.
In the Budget, we announced our commitment to invest $2.4 billion in new medicines to build on our commitment to guarantee those essential services that all Australians rely on including in regional and remote areas.
Under the next National Health Reform Agreement, from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2025, the Federal Government will contribute $131.4 billion in funding to Australia’s public hospitals.
I will continue to fight for more health services in the regions, as I fought for Geraldton to get a radiation therapy centre.
Youth mental health is a big issue in regional areas. I am proud to have just secured a headspace for Kununurra, having secured a headspace for the Pilbara the previous year on the back of one in Geraldton in 2016.
4. Should the government allow the sale of Australian agricultural land and water to foreign buyers?
It is important that Australians get every opportunity to purchase agricultural land and water. The Foreign Investment Review Board performs an important role in the regulation of the sale to foreign buyers. There have been further restrictions placed on the sale of agricultural land and interests in agribusiness to foreign entities. Foreign ownership in Australia is nothing new and Australia has benefitted from such investments. What is important is that Australia has the right checks and balances in place to protect Australia’s national interest.
5. If you would like voters to remember just one thing about you, what would that be?
I am as passionate and as dedicated to the people in Durack as ever. It has been an honour to be the Member for Durack. My achievements have been many but I know there is more to do. I will continue to work hard to ensure that no matter where you live in Durack that you have an opportunity for a good education, can get a job, look after your family, live in a safe community and a clean environment and have the best infrastructure to support you and your family
Sharyn Morrow, Australian Labor Party
1. Why are you standing for election?
I decided to stand for election in the seat of Durack because I am disillusioned with the current Federal Government and think I can do a better job than our sitting member.
I believe the people of Durack deserve a voice in Canberra who understands the needs of the communities in this massive regional seat. I live, work and volunteer within the seat of Durack. I have worked for some time in the higher education sector and appreciate the importance of accessibility to training, skill development and education. I also understand the consequences of limited health services. As a cancer survivor I still have regular specialist appointments and MRI scans and I recognise the importance of being able to access health services locally and without delay.
I will fight harder for our communities, opportunities for our youth, local jobs and a fair go for the people of Durack.
2. What can we do to improve regional education?
Labor has announced a range of key policies in Rural and Regional Higher Education such as a commitment of $3.2 million for programs to support students in country areas to go to University or TAFE, including mentoring and tutorials, delivered through 22 new community-owned Regional Study hubs.
Labor will also appoint a dedicated Regional and Remote Commissioner to develop strategies and policies to support country students and regional higher education institutions.
Further a Labor Government will deliver an extra $14 billion for public schools over the next decade. This will see an extra $66,890,000 invested in the electorate of Durack over the next three years. As an example, Central Midlands Senior High School will be $450,000 better off over the next three years under a Shorten Labor Government.
3. What is your party’s plan to improve access to appropriate and comprehensive health care for those living in regional and remote areas?
The Shorten Labor Team has a $2.3 billion dollar plan to boost Medicare across Australia. Labor will respond to the unique health needs of people in regional, rural and remote Australia by developing a new National Rural Health Strategy.
Labor recently announced that we will cover the dental care of three million pensioners and seniors.
Labor also announced new regional radiation therapy centres including Geraldton in the seat of Durack, one of 13 across regional Australia.
Labor plans to invest an additional $110 million in vital new projects across Western Australia.
Labor will;
• Drive down cancer specialist costs.
• Deliver new MRI machines – with Medicare licenses for the regions that need them.
• End the Medicare freeze – to address rising out-of-pocket costs and keep health care affordable.
Labor created Medicare and we will always protect it.
4. Should the government allow the sale of Australian agricultural land and water to foreign buyers?
Australia’s agriculture sector has huge opportunities given the rising demand for our clean, green produce, particularly in Asia. However our agricultural sector needs investment so these opportunities can be realised. Using foreign investment helps to create more jobs for those living in rural and regional communities and helps to expand the Australian economy.
All foreign investment however must be in our national interest. That’s why Labor supports a strong Foreign Investment Review Board to ensure foreign investment in Australia is in our interest and helps to strengthen our economy and create more jobs for Australians.
5. If you would like voters to remember just one thing about you, what would that be?
I would like voters to remember that I have a commitment to the people of Durack as I live, work and volunteer in this electorate. Durack is my home and I will fight for our communities.
Business as usual is not working for the people of Durack. We need change and I would like to be remembered for making that happen.
Gary Mounsey, West Australian Party
1. Why are you standing for election?
I feel we havebeen let down by the system and the major parties representing Western Australia. I feel someone needs to show the major parties that Durack is not a safe seat and we deserve to be looked after considerably better, especially if you consider we put in the lions share per capita of population. I love my state and love living in the bush. I want to make a difference for the better.
2. What can we do to improve regional education?
We must support the great programs like School of the Air and keep up the fight for State and Federal Governments to keep our schools open and to reinvest in the regional areas for schools and higher education. We want to grow our towns and not be supressed by Government, and the only way we can do this is by having good schools and greater opportunities.
3. What is your party’s plan to improve access to appropriate and comprehensive health care for those living in regional and remote areas?
Wait times to see a health professional in our regions are unacceptable, one could consider a laughing stock, and it is our plan to push government to invest more for access to doctors, nurses, mental health, aged care and drug rehabilitation in remote isolated towns. Why should we suffer because we live in the regions?
4. Should the government allow the sale of Australian agricultural land and water to foreign buyers?
I think foreign investment is important but not at the detriment of our local farmers. We should be considering a cap on how much we will allow to go out to foreign investment. Water use in the Kimberley is much different to the wheatbelt so I believe allowing the sale of our water to foreign investment in the south should be left for our local farmers as it is a lot more valuable.
5. If you would like voters to remember just one thing about you, what would that be?
That I was chosen by the people of Western Australia, for the people of Western Australia.
