Nepean Candidates Asked What They Can Actually Deliver Before November

1. What would you do to help address cost of living pressures in Nepean?

Locally, I would advocate for additional public transport facilities, such as increased bus routes and more regular buses. One Nations policies would help small and medium business to expand and create more local jobs, reducing the amount of work-related travel. Our energy policies include scrapping all tax payer funded government subsidies on large scale renewable energy projects, and reserving Victorian gas for Victoria in order to bring down energy prices. Encourage the community to shop smarter for groceries and grow their own produce to reduce the costs at the supermarket checkout.

2. What would you do to improve community safety and address crime in Nepean?

Crime down the Mornington Peninsula has increased by around 30% in the last two years – with the state some 1500 to 3000 police short. One Nation policies include increasing funding for the police, introducing minimum mandatory sentences and refusing bail for violent crimes. Locally I would be advocating for early intervention and rehabilitation programs in order to deter and reduce crime down the peninsula.

3. What would you do to improve housing affordability in Nepean?

One Nations policies include to reduce the mass immigration and ban foreign ownership of properties to free up housing. Almost 17,000 homes in Melbourne are now foreign owned. Freeing up this housing will help reduce the demand around Melbourne and possibly down the peninsula. One of our policies is to allow home owners within Victoria (and Nepean) to be able to rent out one room of their primary residence to a tenant tax free. This would increase accommodation supply and help reduce rental prices. Also One Nation intends to reduce the land tax for investors, and repeal the fire and services levy to help ensure a good supply of rental properties. I will be advocating the local council to ease and reduce the conditions attached to planning permits in order to ensure a more efficient process, and allow builders to build more housing.

4. What would you do to secure better road funding and maintenance outcomes for Nepean?

Last financial year the Victorian Government spent approximately $692m of an announced $964m on road infrastructure maintenance. I would push the DTP (Department of Transport and Planning) for additional funding for state roads within the electorate and work with the local shire in order to expediate their maintenance works, capital works and other priority projects. I will work with the shire to review the annual budgets in order to deliver the best outcomes for Nepean.

5. What would you do to push for action on Rosebud Hospital?

I believe the most efficient and fastest way for Rosebud to get the medical facilities that the Nepean community requires is for the redevelopment of the Rosebud Hospital through a PPP. A Public Private Partnership (PPP) between a private investor/consortium and the state government, which would be fully funded by the private developers that have already stepped forward, would save the tax payers $340m dollars. If this current state Labor government was to build the facility, history tells us these costs would blow out significantly more.

The Rosebud facility would include a public hospital, a private hospital, private consulting suites, aged care, child care and an aquatic center, thus forming a medical health precinct. The public hospital and facilities would be maintained and staffed by the State Government. It’s a proven business model that has been used for other medical facilities in Melbourne including the new Footscray hospital and the Frankston hospital re-development. I would push hard for this proposal – let’s get it done.

6. Given the successful candidate will not be part of government and only about six months remain in the term, what tangible results could voters realistically expect you to achieve before the November state election, and how would you go about it?

A single seat would not have a large influence on the current state of affairs overall, however I would work with community groups, local council and community advocates to push hard for better outcomes for the Nepean electorate. I would also work with potential developers to push for a PPP for the Rosebud hospital. As the proposal is entirely privately funded, it could be possible for this proposal to be pre-approved via a MOU prior to November and of course this would be just the beginning. It would be a great grounding moving towards November and if I was to be elected, a great opportunity to make a real difference to Nepean and assist One Nation in removing the incompetent and corrupt Allan Labor Government.

1. What would you do to help address cost of living pressures in Nepean?

The biggest cost of living expense is housing, which is why Sustainable Australia Party (SAP) will deliver affordable housing now, the sustainable way. SAP tackles the cost of living by targeting both supply and demand-side housing pressures, including more social housing, less investor tax breaks and slower migration. We will improve housing affordability including lowering rent, lower energy costs through both gas reservation and cheaper renewables, as well as reducing the cost of public transport by at least 50 per cent.

2. What would you do to improve community safety and address crime in Nepean?

SAP will better provide for the security of our community including more funding and resources to prevent and respond to domestic violence, better address mental health problems through the health system and increase police recruitment and resources. I am a former Victorian Police officer and security professional and currently a Local Laws Officer with a suburban council. My profession is law enforcement, and I understand that fines and jail don’t provide a sustainable solution to crime. The solution will rely on a multi-pronged effort, involving law enforcement, social and community organisations, crime prevention through environmental design and the will of the public, including improved community norms and values.

3. What would you do to improve housing affordability in Nepean?

SAP advocates for a “sustainable” approach to housing affordability by addressing both the major demand-side and supply-side issues. Our core objective is to achieve greater affordability for first-home buyers and renters while maintaining stable house prices rather than encouraging further rapid price growth. As noted above, our plan includes more social housing, both public and community, which we would increase from 2% to 10% of total builds. This would include community-supported Tiny Home projects. SAP would also end investor tax breaks, including negative gearing and CGT concessions for property investors, although grandfathered for current investors. Importantly, no housing affordability plan is valid without addressing Australia’s high immigration rate. SAP advocates for slower migration, by returning the annual permanent migration program from a very high 200,000 per annum to the normal twentieth century average of 70,000 per annum.

4. What would you do to secure better road funding and maintenance outcomes for Nepean?

Sustainable Australia Party will prioritise the most ecologically sustainable and congestion-free public and private transport systems to help reduce the dependence on our roads, while also investing in better road maintenance. SAP will lower the cost of urban, regional and rural public transport by at least 50 per cent, expand state-based rail and/or bus networks, and build better and safer active and sustainable transport systems. SAP would also move freight where possible to rail to help remove larger and heavier trucks from our local roads. More traffic in addition to extreme weather results in the deterioration of poorly made roads. I am a board member of the Victorian Motorcycle Council, an organisation that advocates for better rider safety and improved allocation of funding to help improve our roads and remove potholes that are dangerous to motorcycle riders and cars alike.

5. What would you do to push for action on Rosebud Hospital?

Successive governments have neglected the Rosebud Hospital for decades and the Kennett Liberal government considered selling off or closing the hospital in the 1990s. The Liberal government scaled back services so much that ambulance officers worked ‘one up’ in the Rosebud area. When I worked for Victoria Police I routinely had to assist lone ambulance officers to load their patients into the back of the ambulance. Sustainable Australia Party will advocate to bring the Rosebud Hospital up to standard, whether that is an upgrade or a complete rebuild. If the major parties continue to focus on growth on the Mornington Peninsula, a better/new hospital and improved emergency department is necessary.

6. Given the successful candidate will not be part of government and only about six months remain in the term, what tangible results could voters realistically expect you to achieve before the November state election, and how would you go about it?

The forthcoming state election will provide opportunities to advocate for the Nepean district, particularly to deliver affordable housing now, the sustainable way. When I was first elected to Local Government, and in the subsequent three elections, good planning, strategy and community consultation were all important to achieving outcomes. If elected I will meet with community leaders, and local government, state and federal members, and bureaucrats to accelerate the outcomes important to the Nepean community. When in parliament, creating alliances and learning how to influence the allocation of funding to achieve capital project funding will be important, from funding intended for coastal and road improvements such as fixing Portsea front beach and the rock revetments at Safety Beach, to funding our health care including Rosebud Hospital. You can find more details on Sustainable Australia Party’s policies on our website at www.sustainableaustralia.org.au.

1. What would you do to help address cost of living pressures in Nepean?

Across the Peninsula, people tell me they’re cutting back on food, medical care and seeing family just to cover rent, power and fuel. That isn’t bad luck, it’s the result of political choices that favour big banks, energy companies and supermarkets over households.

I want wages to keep up with the real cost of living, and stronger rules that stop big corporations from price-gouging on essentials like groceries and electricity. I support practical relief that shows up in people’s bills, cheaper public transport, fairer energy prices and support for those on fixed incomes.

I believe in putting people ahead of corporate profits, and to do that I’ll keep listening to workers, small businesses and pensioners about what’s biting hardest and take that directly into Parliament.

2. What would you do to improve community safety and address crime in Nepean?

When I talk with locals, what makes people feel unsafe is often housing stress, mental ill-health, family violence and public spaces that are poorly lit or poorly serviced, not just headlines about crime.

My starting point is that everyone deserves to feel safe and respected, whether they’re walking home from the bus or sleeping rough on the foreshore. That means more support for youth, mental health and alcohol and other drug services, practical improvements to lighting and transport, and stable housing so people aren’t pushed into desperate situations.

It also means justice that reduces harm and re-offending, instead of treating prison as the only answer. I’m not interested in “law and order” scare tactics, I’m interested in evidence, prevention and listening to the people who see the impacts every day.

3. What would you do to improve housing affordability in Nepean?

The Peninsula has the highest homelessness and rough sleeping numbers in Victoria and the highest rental pain index, yet we still lack basic crisis accommodation.

I regularly meet people sleeping in cars or on couches so their kids can stay at the local school, while nearby homes sit dark most of the year. We need fairer rental rules like strong caps on rent increases, better protections from unfair evictions and a serious boost to public and genuinely affordable housing.

I support a dedicated crisis accommodation service on the Southern Peninsula with proper wrap-around support, and fairer funding for homelessness and community services already doing heroic work on the smell of an oily rag.

Nepean shouldn’t be a playground for the wealthy in summer and a homelessness hotspot in winter.

4. What would you do to secure better road funding and maintenance outcomes for Nepean?

Anyone who drives here knows we’re dodging potholes and bottlenecks that have been obvious for years. People are rightly cynical about “pothole politics,” quick photo-ops with a shovel instead of the long-term investment we actually need.

I want transparent funding rules that recognise how heavily our roads are used by locals, tourists and freight, not just how politically “interesting” a seat is. That includes safer crossings and paths around schools and town centres, and better bus links so driving isn’t the only option.

As a local who spends a lot of time on these roads, I’ll keep listening to residents about which stretches are unsafe, and take those priorities straight to the Minister instead of treating roads as a backdrop for campaign stunts.

5. What would you do to push for action on Rosebud Hospital?

Location shouldn’t decide the quality of health care you receive. Right now, too many Nepean residents are travelling 45 minutes or more, or waiting in an overstretched hospital that hasn’t kept pace with our community.

As someone who works in health, I see Rosebud as a test of whether government takes regional and coastal communities seriously. I want a clear, funded commitment to upgrade Rosebud as a fully public hospital with enough beds, a stronger emergency department and services that meet the needs of older people, women and families under housing and cost-of-living stress.

In Parliament, I’d keep Rosebud on the agenda using questions, debates and committee processes, and report back so locals can see progress instead of just glossy artist’s impressions.

6. Given the successful candidate will not be part of government and only about six months remain in the term, what tangible results could voters realistically expect you to achieve before the November state election, and how would you go about it?

From the crossbench, I can’t write the budget but I can make it much harder for government to ignore Nepean.

For me, success in six months looks like concrete, public commitments on Rosebud Hospital, crisis accommodation and fairer rental rules, not just another round of promises.

I’d move quickly to put our key issues on the Parliamentary record and work with local services, community groups and outlets like STPL News so real stories from Nepean are front and centre. Politics done differently means being honest about limits, using every lever we do have, and treating representation as a two-way conversation. As a local who listens, I’d keep coming back to residents with updates so people can see who is responding and who still needs a push.

1. What would you do to help address cost of living pressures in Nepean?

Cost of living starts with jobs. My focus would be to stop taxing small business out of existence, because every empty shop, office or factory means fewer local jobs, less competition and higher prices.
Mornington Peninsula has about 17,147 businesses and 120,665 local jobs, roughly 7 jobs per business on average, and 98% of businesses have fewer than 20 staff or no employees. So when government policy forces even one local business to close, the community feels it. (Mornington Peninsula Shire)
My line:
“Every vacant shopfront is not just an empty building, it is lost jobs, lost wages and lost opportunity.”

2. What would you do to improve community safety and address crime in Nepean?

Libertarians believe people have the right to defend themselves, their families and their homes. I would push for Castle Law, giving homeowners stronger legal protection when defending their property, and legal access to pepper spray for self-defence.
We also need courts that back victims, not repeat offenders. Consequences must be clear, swift and meaningful.
My line:
“Community safety starts with backing the law-abiding citizen, not making them feel like the criminal.”

3. What would you do to improve housing affordability in Nepean?

Housing has gone from being difficult to being almost impossible. A generation ago, a house was around four times annual income, now many young families are looking at seven or eight times income.
The answer is not more government schemes, it is more supply, faster approvals, lower red tape, and lower taxes that get passed straight into the price of housing.
My line:
“You cannot regulate, tax and delay your way into affordable housing.”

4. What would you do to secure better road funding and maintenance outcomes for Nepean?

Nepean deserves practical infrastructure, not political vanity projects. I would push to cancel the Suburban Rail Loop and redirect infrastructure money into roads, hospitals and services that benefit all Victorians, not just selected suburbs.
I would also push to cancel wasteful symbolic programs, including the Treaty program, and ask a simple question: would Nepean rather have a properly funded hospital and safe roads, or more division and bureaucracy?
My line:
“Fix the roads people drive on before building rail loops most Victorians will never use.”

5. What would you do to push for action on Rosebud Hospital?

Rosebud Hospital should be treated as essential infrastructure. The money is there, it is just being spent in the wrong places.
Nepean has limited public transport, ageing infrastructure and growing health needs. Yet billions are being poured into the SRL while communities like ours are told to wait.
My line:
“Cancel the SRL, fund Rosebud Hospital, and stop treating Nepean like an afterthought.”

6. Given the successful candidate will not be part of government and only about six months remain in the term, what tangible results could voters realistically expect you to achieve before the November state election, and how would you go about it?

I would not pretend one MP outside government can fix everything in six months. What I can do is apply pressure, expose waste, force public debate and use Parliament to make Nepean impossible to ignore.
David Limbrick has shown what a Libertarian MP can achieve, chairing the committee that exposed the Commonwealth Games debacle, raising issues other MPs avoided, fighting land tax, waste and government overreach.
I have done the same in manufacturing, I have built a strong advocacy record by pushing practical solutions, not slogans.
My line:
“I cannot promise miracles in six months, but I can promise pressure, scrutiny and a voice that will not be managed, silenced or absorbed by the major party machine.”

Candidate has requested an extension and will submit their answers as soon as possible.