Longman

Lloyd Russell - Liberal Democrats (LDP)

Policy Source: Following my approach adopted for previous LibDem candidates, I have deviated from the ABC's link and policy topics are taken from the LibDem's bio for Lloyd Russell, which helpfully states three economic reforms "Lloyd advocates for" and three policies the candidate "strongly advocates". The former forms one policy below, the latter two. Policy detail is taken from the LibDem policy pages.

Policy 1: Tax Reform. The first position on Mr Russell’s bio is the removal of GST from electricity supply. The idea was costed in this document and argues for GST removal from all supply of electricity except for buying batteries, but retains GST on generation expenses like solar panels. The other two tax reforms mentioned are part of LDP policy to “cut federal taxes by more than half, through:

·         lifting the tax free threshold to $40,000, cutting personal tax rates to a flat 20%, and cutting the company tax rate to 20%; and

·         abolishing tobacco, alcohol and fuel taxes, import tariffs, carbon pricing and mineral resource rent taxation.”

Policy 2: Cannabis and Vaping. The party supports the legalisation of cultivation, processing, possession, transport and sale of recreational cannabis, medicinal cannabis and cannabis products while supporting limits on selling cannabis to minors or driving while impaired by cannabis use. I could not find details about Vaping, but the LDP’s “pro-choice” views on smoking generally can be found here.

Policy 3: Self-defence. Mr Russell’s bio calls specifically to legalise pepper spray and tasers for non-lethal self-defence. I could not find further details on this policy anywhere, but regarding self-defence more generally it is long-standing LibDem policy that gun control should be relaxed, that firearms should be available for self-defence, that anyone over 18 (excluding people with violent criminal history etc.) should be automatically entitled to a gun licence and a concealed-carry licence, that long-arms should not need to be registered and that semi-automatic firearms should not be limited or prohibited.

Jim Saleam - Australia First Party (AFP)

Policy Source: The aim of the three-policy approach to summarising candidates is to give every candidate a fair representation in terms of space and diversity of views. Unfortunately, I feel like paraphrasing the AFP’s platform to reduce their 8 core policies to three might invite the perception that I am portraying the candidate as White Supremacist; I wouldn’t be the first to level that accusation at Mr Saleam, and it’s hard to avoid those kinds of implications for a party that has a page on the history of the White Australia Policy under its policies tab. Instead, here are the headings for the 8 core policies found on the ABC-recommended Facebook page and the AFP’s website.

1. Ensure Australia Retains Full Independence
2. Rebuild Australian Manufacturing Industries
3. Control Foreign Ownership
4. Reduce and Limit Immigration
5. Abolish Multiculturalism
6. Introduce Citizen’s Initiated Referenda
7. Strengthen the Family
8. Strive To Rebuild A United Australia

Gregory Bell - Labour DLP (DLP)

Policy Source: I admit I am reaching here, but the DLP has a long list of highly varied policies with no obvious way to sort them; I did notice, however, that the ABC-linked page for Mr Bell stated DLP policies are “are based first and foremost on what’s good for families, what’s good for workers and what’s good for local communities.” So with that in mind…

Policy 1: What’s good for families*. The DLP believes marriage is between a man and a woman and that children should be raised by their biological parents. They support “the rights and duty of parents to discipline their children”, an immediate overhaul of the Family Court, adoption programs and free pre-marital education for all couples. The party opposes same-sex marriage, civil unions and abortion. They also want Family Impact Statements introduced for legislation and a system where parents are trained in childcare and must be “on duty” one day in every five to qualify for childcare.

Policy 2: What’s good for workers*. The DLP is a pro-union party; wants to establish a scheme that allows sick, carer’s and long service leave accrued at one job to be redeemable at another job; and believes the minimum wage should be calculated based on the reasonable needs of a two-child family. The party would also abolish the Superannuation Guarantee age limit.

Policy 3: What’s good for communities*. This party wants to encourage rural development and growth through lower tax, lower home loans rates and infrastructure investment and supports Indigenous rights to title over traditional lands. The party also has a population plan which includes balancing the immigration rate and making most immigration and relocation within Australia boost regional communities.

*These statements do not indicate any opinion of my own as to whether or not these policies are good for families, workers or communities

Jackie Perkins - Independent (IND)

Policy Source: Consolidated from www.jackieperkins.com.au.

Policy 1: Political reform. Dr Perkins lists several proposed changes to how government is run, from more pay equality between ministers and shadow ministers, to term limits, to a 3-term requirement to qualify for parliamentary pensions, to clear job descriptions and online diaries for all politicians. She advocates moving most family court disputes online, a two-tier government where elected officials decide on the nation’s direction and social engineers develop detailed policy to achieve this, and retaining the monarchy “lest we become a “little America”.”

Policy 2: Oversight. The candidate wants a 5-yearly review of the public service, efficient redress for serious complaints regarding government and industry, and “reference to experts and stakeholders when enacting changes to prevent oversights and mistakes.”

Policy 3: Living Wage for All. This policy would require people seeking this wage to take on skills training or further education, or national service.

James Noonan- Science Party (SCI)

Policy Source: It seems the Caboolture Herald has done my job for me. Unfortunately, I could not find the corresponding summaries for the other candidates so easily.

Matthew Stephen- Pauline Hanson's One Nation (PHON)

Policy Source: One Nation has a number of policies I could choose from, but no obvious means of selecting which ones I should discuss. Mr Stephen’s Bio gave no real guidance beyond a general concern that government ignores voters and a need for jobs and infrastructure in the area. I could not find further practical details on PHON’s plans for these issues and to compound matters, many of the policies that are present are out of date (e.g. supporting a ‘referendum’ on Same-Sex Marriage).

However, the candidate’s campaign’s Facebook page does have some policy updates, so I have inserted them below and ignored the ABC’s recommended link to the PHON website.

Policy 1: Ice Epidemic (June 13, 17, 18). This topic is mentioned repeatedly throughout the history of the page at least as far back as May and prior to the finalisation of candidates for the by-election. The PHON ice epidemic policy was linked to on June 17 with the candidate’s approval, and states in full:

Build rehab facilities for addicted drug users to alleviate pressure on our hospital facilities. Treatment to be paid for by patients and not taxpayers. Life sentences for the big end of town drug dealers and manufacturers. Jailing expenses to be paid for by perpetrators with their assets and finances seized.

Policy 2: Australian Values (June 26). One of the most diverse policies on PHON, it was provided as a link by the candidate to his campaign Facebook, presumably receiving his full endorsement. This policy includes a royal commission to determine if Islam is a genuine religion, increased aged pensions, review and revoking trade agreements, review of family law, review of child support, review of government perks, responsible gun ownership and tougher penalties for gun crime, an Australian identity card and tax reform.

PHON opposes full foreign ownership of Australian land, privatisation of water or universities and CSG on farmland. The party also plans to introduce an apprenticeships scheme and prioritise Australians in job markets.

Policy 3: Immigration (July 16). The PHON party considers it important to have zero net immigration, sustainable refugee intake with temporary protection visas and no Muslim immigration. This party supports English as the official language

John Reece - Australian People's Party (APP)

Policy Source: Mr Reece’s bio gives me no direction on his personal issues of interest but party's policy page has several policies to sort through, so I have taken the three most expansively discussed as the "main platforms".

Policy 1: Taxation. This party wants to end tax deductions for work expenses*, increase the tax-free threshold, replace tax offsets for carers and people with disabilities with a payment, remove the beneficiary tax offset, reduce marginal tax rates, simplify GST and expand it to financial services, a 20% corporate tax rate with very few possible deductions; tax on all foreign businesses selling to Australians, and a 50% tax on property sales by foreign investors.

Policy 2: Immigration. The APP wants to reduce immigration for a 5-year period by: reducing visa numbers; abolishing temporary skilled migration; relying on temporary protection visas for refugees and repatriating them when it is safe to do so; providing visas for migrants to settle and remain in regional centres for 5 years; deporting all illegal immigrants; requiring family-sponsored immigrants of working age to have full-time employment for 5 years and not rely on welfare payments, with minors to be supported by family sponsors; and requiring immigrants to live here for 5 years, speak English and receive no convictions before seeking citizenship.

Policy 3: Social Security and Living Standards. APP policies call for: a $50 increase in the fortnightly single pension, $90 increase in the couples pension, Reduction of retirement age to 65, a reduction of gas and electricity bills by 50%, the implementation of a gas reservation policy, no expiration dates on any phone/internet data, unemployed people being made to work for councils or the military after 1 year, all welfare recipients to require photo ID, changing the NDIS to the National Investment Scheme, fully fund childcare only for working parents passing a means test, and all businesses with over 100 employees to have in-house childcare.

*The exact wording of this policy is "allow no work-related deductions". Though purely speculative, it is possible this should read "allow non-work-related deductions" which has the opposite effect of expanding rather than restricting tax deductions.

Susan Lamb - Australian Labor Party (ALP)

Policy Source: Following my pattern of my previous examinations of major parties, going to the photos of the Facebook page the ABC links to shows exactly which topics they are advocating regularly. Consulting the slogans in these images gives us the three topics below. Further details are drawn from the ALP website.

Policy 1: Healthcare. The ALP has a broader campaign to halt a calculated $175 m cut to hospitals over a 3-year period. Locally, Ms Lamb has promised a $1.5 m training ward for the local TAFE, a $17 m Urgent Care Clinic for Bribie and a $10 m chemotherapy service at Caboolture Hospital.

Policy 2: Education. Several cuts to education are opposed by the ALP—cuts to University, TAFE and schools—and is also concerned by the lack of confirmation for extending preschool funding beyond 2019. Locally the candidate has promised $1.5 m to Caboolture TAFE, and nationally the party promises to abolish caps on University places and promises 200,000 more university places. A promise in one image that “We put 100,000 TAFE places ahead of [tax cuts]” may indicate a commitment to providing these places or simply an opposition to current spending that they do not expect to be able to unwind.

Policy 3: Opposing Corporate Tax Cuts. All of the above cuts of concern, and all of the money allocated for promises, seems to carry the theme of reversing tax cuts to “big business” to fund essential services.  Exact details are hard to find, but that may be because removing tax concessions is a very simple idea to communicate, though potentially complex from an accountancy standpoint.

Trevor Ruthenberg - Liberal National Party of Queensland (LNP)

Policy Source: Another major party. Another Facebook page. Another consideration of the images—or a specific image—for a policy summary. It is interesting how these contrast with the ALP, now they are back to back on the ballot (note the differing views on corporate tax cuts and health spending in particular).

Policy 1: Cost of living. The LNP promises to reduce local unemployment as a result of tax cuts to locals and businesses, which combined with promises to reduce electricity bills is aimed at creating a more prosperous community.

Policy 2: Infrastructure. Mr Ruthenberg states he has secured funding for a 20-bed addiction recovery facility and that, contrary to the cuts cited by the ALP, the LNP is outspending Labor on funding Metro North hospitals. The party promises upgrades to several local roads, the Bruce Highway and the road to the island community of Bribie.

Policy 3: Border security. The policies listed here include support for cancelling the visas of major criminals—citing 900 Queensland visa cancellations already—and support for the coalitions’ ongoing border security measures.

Blair Ann Verrier- Australian Country Party (ACP)

Policy Source: Ms Verrier’s bio, like many, provide little guidance on her areas of keenest interest within the ACP policies. Without any guide to the candidate’s passions, I have simply taken the party’s three most extensive policies to be those they are most passionate about and summarised them below.

Policy 1: Agriculture. Perhaps most controversially, the ACP is in favour of live export, though they also stress “ACP supports good animal welfare practices which sit well with our need to export”. The party also seeks to strengthen AQIS to provide greater control over food imports, provide more staff to quarantine and customs to protect consumers and food producers and ensure more equitable management of water resources. The ACP wants more funding for agricultural research and better access to new technologies and information, and also wants to empower the ACCC to ensure domestic retailers do not gouge consumers or rip off producers.

Policy 2: Firearms. The ACP supports efforts to eradicate illegal firearms and an increase in penalties for gun theft and firearms crimes. The party also supports the use of firearms by farmers and hunters in pest control, encourages sport and competition shooting, and champions the rights of licenced firearms collectors who are members of police-approved clubs. ACP does not support further restrictions on hunting and shooting land and advocates for some national parks to increase access by hunters. The party recognises the importance of safe gun storage and licensing, but supports proposals to reduce any “red tape” that does not improve safety and believes a review of the current firearms categories is overdue.

Policy 3: Refugees. ACP agrees with UN programs settling refugees in the countries where they first seek asylum, does not support “asylum shopping”, disagrees with calls to increase the refugee quota and believes strong measures should be taken to discourage boat travel by refugees to Australia. The ACP believes all processing of asylum seekers should be conducted by Australian personnel on Australian territory.

Gavin Behrens- The Greens (GRN)

Policy Source: Mr Behrens’ states in his profile on the Greens’ website that “the issues that face us are… Rising power bills, transport costs, rates and rents are squeezing the very last dollar out of our pockets. Work is harder to find and harder to keep when you get it.” And later also mentions funding for health and education as major focuses. Further details are taken from the federal Greens’ policy pages.

Policy 1: Cost of Living. To tackle the cost of living the Greens argue the need for fast, frequent, reliable, affordable, accessible and safe public transport; affordable, ecologically sound, water and energy efficient development; the promotion of energy efficiency strategies; urban areas designed to reduce dependence on transport and reduce commuting; walking and cycling lanes; mandatory fuel efficiency standards and labelling; reforms to the taxation of superannuation to benefit lower income earners; tax reforms to reduce the cost of houses; land tax to replace stamp duty and government-ensured distribution of paid work.

Policy 2: Employment. With regards to job availability, the Greens support measures to make part-time or casual work better able to support workers through reforming industrial laws, make long service leave accrue over multiple jobs and give greater rights to casual employees including full rights to challenge unfair termination. More broadly for employment the party wants full protection of accrued entitlements of employees, improved minimum employment standards for trainees and apprentices, elimination of the gender pay gap, shorter standard working hours, incentives for workplace childcare, enhanced paid parental leave, five weeks annual leave for all workers, and strong industrial manslaughter and OH&S laws.

Policy 3: Health and Education. The official Greens policy on health has a lot about providing access and tailored health solutions to specific demographics, such as Indigenous, LGBT and other individuals. They also want improved access to medical services in rural and remote areas, universal publicly funded dental care, preventative measures (particularly those targeting diet), access to bulk-billing GPs, health insurance subsidies to be diverted to public health, continuation and full resourcing for Medicare and the PBS, access to free safe abortions, free birthing services and euthanasia, comprehensive medical research, rigorous regulation of pharmaceuticals and for regulation of blood donor deferrals to be based on scientific evidence.

With regards to education, they desire free tertiary education, needs-based funding for schools, an independent school resourcing body, restrictions on funding for private schools, LGBTIQ-sensitive school-aged education and support programs, education on consent and respectful relationships, redirecting funding from school chaplains to qualified support professionals,