Candidate: Pete Mailler

scone.com.au has sent each of the 17 candidates in the upcoming by-election for the seat of New England a series of questions and we will publish their responses so you can compare each candidate. As each candidate responds we will publish their answers. You can click on 2017 New England By-Election to read more about each candidate.

 

1. What do you think are the priorities for the people of the Upper Hunter area?

Employment, education, health, infrastructure including telecommunications, protection of agricultural land and water …

The reality is that we are all in this together and we all have variants on the same themes.  In the end though, I think people want i to know that they are not being taken for granted in the political process and that they are genuinely getting the best deal possible.

 

2. What are you major policies?

Renewables, Education, Medicinal Cannabis, Small business, Infrastructure (including telecommunications) …

Ultimately though the major policy is for accountable government and the need to motivate those elected to truly serve the electorate. This can only be delivered through political competition and the realisation that the seat will not be safe if it is not well served politically.

 

3. Where do you live?

I am a farmer near Boggabilla.

 

4. Would you support funding for an in town rail overpass in Scone?

Given the volumes of traffic on the New England Highway and the volume of rail freight through the town it would seem a no brainer.  It would mean significant short term disruptions but likely long term benefits.  I would seek to secure a minimum local labour utilisation target with such a project.

 

5. Would you change section 44? Why/Why not?

Yes, it is outdated and no longer has the same meaning or implications as it did when it was written.  That said, every time a candidate nominates to run for federal parliament, they sign a declaration in relation to S44 and there is no excuse for failing to comply with it.

 

6. Would you support a bill for voluntary euthanasia?

Probably, but the detail would determine the outcome here.

 

7. Do you support coal seam gas development?

Not unless the CSG development can prove no harm to groundwater resources.

 

8. Would you reopen/establish more federal government services in the Upper Hunter area such as the Medicare office?

I would certainly be prepared to fight for better government services and I am sure a solution could be found.

 

9. Would you support mining in the Upper Hunter area?

CountryMinded policy recognises mining is a legitimate industry, but it is essential that mining operates on a “no harm” basis in relation to agricultural land and water.  Mining should not be able to operate on different standards to any other industry.

 

10. What would you do to create jobs and growth in the Upper Hunter area?

We will seek to develop a renewable energy hub that integrates all levels of government and streamlines infrastructure approvals and offtake agreements to bring down costs, improve certainty and simplify private sector investment that will bring down power costs over time.

We will champion a medicinal cannabis industry in the region to tap into a multi-billion dollar industry and improve the quality of life for up to two million Australian patients.

We will seek to establish a New England brand and virtual shop front to promote local small business to global markets.

 

11. Will you support the gay marriage bill?

Yes, CountryMinded is an inclusive political movement.

 

12. Will you support religious protections?

If any are required, then Senator Smiths proposal is adequate to satisfy the conservative celebrants.  Australia is a secular nation and the Constitution affords religious freedom.  The dissent within various faiths indicates that objections to same sex marriage are more an issue of context than decree anyway, so I do not see a compelling case for more prescriptive arrangements.

 

13. Do you think there should be a renewable energy target? Why/why not?

Yes.  Australia and particularly regional Australia has an extraordinary opportunity to significantly increase renewable uptake, but there needs to be certainty for the necessary private sector investment.

 

14. Do you think the company tax rate should be lowered? Why/why not?

The Government does not differentiate between large and small business.  I do not think company taxes should be lowered for big business, but I do believe that tax rates should be lowered for small business, particularly in regional Australia.

 

15. What do you propose should be done with refugees?

Australia’s handling of refugees has been expensive and ineffectual.  It is not illegal to seek asylum, but we must find better ways to handle and integrate stateless people.  Refugees could be processed on the mainland and strict bridging visas applied.  Refugees should be deployed in regional Australia and employed to offset the costs associated with their applications. See link: Irregular Maritime Arrivals.

 

16. The majority of federal road funding goes to Sydney, what do you proposed to do to get more funding for the New England and where would you spend it?

New England will likely determine the balance of power in the Parliament.  This is an excellent opportunity to leverage Supply and Confidence to get a better deal in the region.  The reality is that safe seats get ignored and the mission is to take the seat or make it a marginal seat so that it can’t be taken for granted politically and so will see increased flows of funds.

As a representative of the community it is my job to try and secure the funds the community needs, so it is not my decision where the money goes.  I am just the bloke tasked with getting it.

 

17. What would you do to make housing more affordable?

Phase out negative gearing.

For more information on Pete Mailler visit:

• CountryMinded