Candidates vie for your vote

Why are you the best person to represent the Kiama electorate?

Dr Tonia Gray, The Greens

Gareth Ward MP, Independent

Katelin McInnerney, Labor

Top 3 issues facing our electorate? How will you work to address them?

Dr Tonia Gray, The Greens Climate Change is the most pressing issue confronting our coastal communities. It threatens our homes, coasts, infrastructure, health, environment and future. Kiama is particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels and weather events energised by warmer oceans.

I am a mother, the daughter of a parent in Blue Haven, have lived in the electorate for 40 years and understand the issues confronting our community.

As a university senior leader, my specialisations are education and health.

I am acutely aware our essential workforce is beyond breaking point, despite the current govt admitting critical staff shortages for years. We need bold leadership addressing the climate crisis, cost of living, housing shortages and the gambling epidemic.

People are demanding transparency, honesty and compassion from our political leaders. I am committed to working towards a fairer, healthier and cleaner future for NSW.

When I make a promise to our community, I always get it done.

So many people said, “I’ll never be alive” to see upgrades to the Princes Highway at Gerringong, the Berry and Foxground Bypass, the Albion Park Rail Bypass, the Berry to Bomaderry upgrade.

But as promised, I got these upgrades delivered.

I have worked hard to secure more than $1billion to upgrade health infrastructure which will see a major upgrade of Shoalhaven Hospital and a new hospital at Shellharbour – complete with more doctors, nurses and staff.

I have a proven track record of getting things done.

Politician (anywhere, this century)you most admire?

Dr Tonia Gray, The Greens

I have enormous admiration for Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the former president of Liberia.

Against adversity and hardship, she led an Ebola ravaged, war-torn country to peace.

Ellen was the first elected female African leader and was awarded the Nobel Peace prize. Her leadership transformed a corrupt and bankrupt country.

Gareth Ward MP, Independent John Howard.

He was principled, he was focused on genuine reform. He was tough but fair.

He understood that in order to deliver the services and infrastructure we need, you need a strong economy. Whilst copping criticism, he stood true to his values and Australia is stronger for his service.

Katelin McInnerney, Labor

Julia Gillard – as Australia’s first female Prime Minister she led the way for a new generation of women in parliament.

If elected in March, I will be the first woman to represent the seat of Kiama since our electorate was first gazetted in 1859 over 160 years ago.

Growing up in Kiama I have seen how much our community has changed over the years.

I am proud of our comprehensive plan to build a better future in our region, and I know that my values, my previous work as a journalist, director of the national journalists’ association and my lived local experience will give me the tools needed to represent our community.

I will work every day to give Kiama the fresh start we deserve and be a strong local voice who can represent us on the floor of the Parliament to make sure we aren’t left behind.

Melanie Gibbons, Liberal

There is no middle road when tackling this crisis. We must rapidly reduce greenhouse pollution and plan to protect our community from climate impacts.

The Greens will implement an orderly transition out of coal and gas and work towards net zero emissions by 2035. We will proactively plan to prepare for more hostile climate and develop local adaptation strategies to protect our vulnerable community.

Blue Haven represents 45 years of Council investment in its community. I support community ownership of this iconic complex because we need aged care services we can trust where our elderly feel secure. The hallmark of society is how well they treat their elderly and their vulnerable.

ro, Campbell Street Gerringong and South Kiama near the High School.

I believe there are more appropriate places where urban expansion can occur without impacting on our beautiful landscapes or sterilising fertile farmlands.

The 18-hectare Bombo State Rail Quarry has been suggested for medium density housing and could be ideal for affordable and social housing partnerships. Developments like this, can be initiated by our Council.

The Greens will stop the push by both Labor and Liberal to take the ‘local’ out of local Government. We will return important planning decisions to local government allowing communities to decide how their local areas grow and function.

Gareth Ward MP, Independent Cost of living: I am committed to government policies that help ease the cost of living pressure for locals.

of getting the education and training they need to secure the future of their dreams.

Delivering vital infrastructure: I’ve worked hard to secure more than $1billion for health infrastructure which will see a major upgrade of Shoalhaven Hospital and a new hospital at Shellharbour. Importantly, these hospitals will come with more doctors, nurses and staff.

This comes in addition to major boosts to the budget for the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Health Service and the expansion of medical services.

In addition to more than $2 billion secured to provide life-saving upgrades to our Princes Highway, I have also secured more than $60 million in the last three years to support local councils repair their local roads. Stopping over-development: I love our community and want to protect its environment and character.

Quite simply, I am the best person to represent Kiama because I am known to be an advocate who successfully stands up for people.

I look for where there is an issue and I try and find a solution.

I may not know the answers but I know where to find help to make a difference.

I want to bring an opportunity for people to vote Liberal and to make sure that this area is represented as part of Dom Perrottet’s Government.

Bonaira and Terralong selfcare units generate income for Council, but the nursing home is financially unsustainable. Regardless, I feel our nursing home is worth fighting for because community ownership is important and encourages volunteers, puts people first and is more accountable.

The residential care industry lost $1.7 billion last year and is broken due to poor Federal and State planning and lack of funding. I will work tirelessly to secure funding and fix this broken, defective and shattered system.

Local Planning – The State Government has bypassed Council and ignored the local community by pushing through large scale developer driven housing estates at Golden Valley Road Jamber-

I will continue to fight for support for pensioners and self-funded retirees. Self-funded retirees and part-pensioners need fairer and better recognition when considering eligibility for government programs and supports.

Whilst I strongly support energy rebates, we also need to ensure that government policies don’t increase costs or taxes. Whilst I support cleaner energy, we need to ensure this doesn’t come at a higher cost to households.

The Active Kids and Creative Kids Rebates ensure families have support to encourage happy and healthy young people. We have terrific local sporting clubs run by hard-working local volunteers and these rebates make sport and artistic pursuits more affordable for local families.

I backed the $250 travel card for local trainees, apprentices and uni students. These supports help young people with the rising costs

I believe that people should have a greater say in the future of our urban environment and I believe that too much planning power has been centralised in the hands of bureaucrats in Sydney. I am committed to instigating planning reform that ensures that people have a greater say in how our community grows. It is critical that growth occurs alongside essential infrastructure rather than retrofitting after the event.

Katelin McInnerney, Labor

I am proud of the comprehensive plan we have for a fresh start in NSW and you can find our full plan here: www.freshstartplan.com.au

But for me, the top three issues are:

Fixing our Education system:

12 years ago the current government inherited a world-class education system – our students’ ranked 3rd in the world in Science, 6th in reading, and 9th in maths –now we are 23rd, 24th and 31st respectively. continued p14