1. No CPI on HECS debits – campaign the government when they brought in the HECS, said there would not be any interest levied on their studying debit, however putting CPI on their HECS debit is a form of interest and inhibits people from attaining university qualifications which for the future of the Australian economy is not good. Plus with the addition of the increases in health insurance levy and the daily cost of mobile phones and the internet these are all contributing to a financial stress to the struggling student. as this HECS debt affects everyone in Australia it could be supported Australia wide and therefore it could be a Australia wide nationals campaign strategy. I think that no CPI on the HECS debit is what we really need to push for several reasons, one is that it is like interest on a loan and that makes it hard for people to pay off, makes it class distinct , putting a price on education , regional people have to pay additional costs for education like accommodation etc so this is a greater burden for people in regional areas in the whole of Australia , affects the whole family budget and the ability of young people to start their independence , affects mature people wanting to re -train themselves especially with the down turn in the mining industry , CPI varies each year and is recorded differently from 1.9 to 3.5 % , the government has said no pay rises for staff or agreements at 1.5% over five years, but has not reduced HECS levy, discouraging people to educated, against the Turnbull policy of promoting science, sustainability, maths and innovation, etc.
2. Use of the GST on products review campaign – as we know there has been an argument by consumer groups on what GST has been assigned to and what it hasn’t been placed on and of course the fact that WA doesn’t get its fair share of our GST returned. And the controversy over the increase to the GST, so we can campaign for a review, which means we don’t have a position but want to see the options. One aspect could be used to get perhaps the women’s vote is No GST on sanitary, menstruation, maternity, menopausal, products as women don’t have choice and it is not a service
3. Pathology and MRI tests to be continued to be bulked billed – as this will put a huge financial demands on disabled and the Elderly people and families with children if they have to pay full price, health insurance may increase to offset costs but in the end the consumer pays more. Also this will encourage people not to get tested for diseases such as aides gonorrhoea etc, which in turn will cost the health system more in addressing outbreaks of disease, recovering from infections etc. Plus an extra cost to regional people who also have to pay the additional cost of travelling and often accommodation and time off work to access places to have the test carried out by medical teams
4. Working in regional areas – All government departments and banks etc implement a policy to ensure that all new graduates and employees spend at least one year working in regional areas to obtain permanency as this use to be the case in the past and was stopped. This would encourage more people to work, live, visit and perhaps establish businesses in the regional areas
5. Transfer of employment leave entitlements – between local and state government employees to encourage metropolitan government employees to work and retire in regional areas thereby improving the talent pool , knowledge and experience in towns and increase the number of people living in regional areas
6. Federally funded school health nurse program – to support parents, teachers and the children in resolving issues such as domestic violence, financial issues, obesity social issues, drug issues, bullying, physical and mental issues / difficulties . Currently it is about one school health nurse to 2,000 school children. If issues are sorted out before children get to high school then there will be less issues in high school and this will have a knock on affect of having better adults and better parents in the future.. succession planning for future generations of healthy and well balanced Australians
7. Renewable energy usage – should be encouraged and mandatory especially through infrastructure projects that renewable energy must be part of the business plan, such as solar , wind or wave energy and these could be coupled together to produce cheaper power costs and create jobs all over WA
8. Waste recycling and management – majority of the waste created in the metropolitan area is either sent to the regional areas to be made into compost etc or is sent overseas to be processed and then returned to Australia as recycled plastic etc or is sent to landfill. It is a great opportunity thru projects such as waste to energy plants and plastics or metal recycling centres to be established in the regional areas where the land is cheaper and this will reduce the gate fee associated with landfill stocks, reduce export costs of waste material and would increase jobs and technology in the regional areas and improve productivity and Australia business rating and sustainability rating
9. Improve public and freight transport throughout WA – If we are to create jobs and businesses in the regional areas we need an affective transport mechanism established to allow products to be processed around the state and to ports etc for the exclusive export markets, safety of road users etc . By improving the public transport within both the metropolitan area and the regional areas it should reduce the road toll and provides another option for people to travel safely around the state and will reduce stress on the road and the time pole are spent in the cars travelling and therefore reduce obesity etc
10. Potable Water strategy – There needs to be an overall state wide water usage strategy state wide as rain is dimensioning and populations are increasing. Why is so much of the storm water runoff channelled to the ocean ? We may have limited reuse / recycling/ harvesting programs but they are not compliant and therefore the health of the population is at risk as our valuable natural resource diminishes. The water issue will not lessen so we need some strategies now to get people realizing the issue
11. Commitment to ban poker machines outside of the Casino
12. Fixed term for Election Cycle – As with State elections it should be fixed to promote stable government and would guarantee less politicising of the major political parties and reduce costs because they would be factored in and borne in advance. A four year fixed term for Federal Parliament as we do for State parliament.
13. Improved Mobile and Internet Coverage throughout Australia – There are too many pockets where there is no transmission coverage which could be a risk to safety, health and limits employment and self-employment opportunities.
14. Improve the management and streamline services by Centrelink – Needs to be more pensioner friendly, sympathetic to customers, especially those who do not have internet access or knowledge, every program (such as Work for the Dole Program) needs to be re-evaluated to ensure objectives are realised without compromising service provision and public wellbeing. Improved access to services, especially social workers, to reduce the stress and mental health negative impacts on customers associated with accessing services, especially phone services. Reduced waits to speak to someone and to process claims.
15. Don’t sell our assets – The Nationals WA have come out and said not to sell the Fremantle Port, as it is strategic revenue raising and will be needed for our safety in the event of war, terrorism etc. Concern is also that our farmland is going to China, our dairies are going where, and our cattle/sheep stations? This all has to be reviewed. The whole import/export of all produce needs to be strategically evaluated to have a whole of Australian industry wellbeing viewpoint.
16. More funding provided to address the increase in domestic violence, suicide and drugs in the community. A whole of Australian government approach is required to address this from the grass roots level up to improve Australia as a whole. Investigation into best practice, what is actually working in terms of rehabilitation, with increased funding to community based programs that are achieving results.