Here are the broad policy positions I am taking to this election. Click on a link to go to a policy, and please ask me if you'd like to know where I stand on an issue I haven't included here.
Climate change
Planning
Roads
Schools
Housing
Community services
Public transport
Transparency and accountability of Government
Pokies and gaming machines
Climate change
Top- Support a strong carbon price and complementary measures to drive emissions down.
- Support science-based emissions targets to achieve Victoria's fair share of reductions in global warming pollutants. Current science says zero emissions and a drawing down of carbon already in the atmosphere should be an urgent goal to avoid the worst climate impacts.
- Support the rapid adoption of renewable energy guided by proposals such as the Zero Carbon Australia 2020 Plan developed by Beyond Zero Emissions and recently launched at the University of Melbourne.
- Commit to the closure of the Hazelwood coal-fired power station as soon as possible within the next term of Government.
- Oppose new coal-fired power stations in Victoria and the export of brown coal.
- Support communities affected by the transition to low emissions with retraining and compensation. This includes support for disadvantaged people with their energy bills.
- Oppose compensation to the owners of coal-fired power stations facing closure.
- Support Doctors for the Environment Victoria to identify and address the health impacts of brown coal - for example, by supporting enforceable standards for the particulate matter breathed in by the people who live in coal communities.
- Support complementary measures that serve broad environmental aims - for example, bans on logging of sensitive forest areas that act as carbon sinks, enhance biodiversity, and contribute to the conservation of our natural environment.
Planning
Top- Support a greater say for local communities in decisions about developments in their area. Genuine consultation that influences outcomes; not sham consultation that is ignored.
- Support greater scrutiny of VCAT decisions regarding developer-bias.
- Advocate in Parliament on major developments, including the Arthurton Road, Amcor and Northcote Bowl sites.
- Support developments that reflect the community's voice and meet environmental and social objectives such as sustainability and the needs of the disadvantaged (see also "Housing").
- Increase the transparency in planning processes - for example, by advocating for political donation disclosures from major developers as part of the process for large development projects. Developers have been among the largest donors to the Australian Labor Party.
- Oppose further expansion of the Urban Growth Boundary and the current building of "McMansions" in developments that are not supported by services and rely on cars.
Roads
- Oppose widening of roads that impact on local residents such as the recent reports regarding plans for Merri Parade to connect St George's Road and Hoddle Street in a new arterial link.
- Stand up for residents affected by "rat runs" where ill-considered changes to traffic management channel cars through local streets.
- Advocate for local businesses impacted by extended clearways, and inadequate local parking controls in shopping precincts.
- Make our streets safer by responding to resident concerns regarding inappropriate speed limits, and campaigning for tighter policing of speeding in local shopping centres and around schools.
- Work to make roads safer and encourage cycling in consultation with Bicycle Victoria.
Schools
Top- Support local, public education and campaign for increased funding to schools that too often depend on fundraising to make ends meet. Schools are public institutions, not businesses.
- Support increased pay for teachers and better student-teacher ratios in our schools.
- Support the My School Needs campaign of the Australian Education Union Victoria.
Housing
Top- Support affordable housing options for rent and purchase in areas connected to community services and transport.
- Expand public and social housing that is integrated within communities and meets the objectives set out under "Planning".
- Require large developments to include a proportion of affordable housing.
- Support the Council to Homeless Persons' It takes a home campaign to halve homelessness by 2020.
- Support the provision of dedicated housing for the small number of young people who leave State care every year.
- Advocate for robust public consultation on the redevelopment of public housing estates - particularly with regard to transparency and communication related to the management of asbestos risk during demolition.
Community services
Top- Support the expansion of community services to meet demand - including the provision of more kindergarten places, 24-hour bulk-billing medical centres, and broader children's and family services that focus on early intervention and prevention.
Public transport
Top- Support the election platform of the Public Transport Users' Association to get more services running, more often, including a focus on Smart Buses.
- Support the extension of the 112 tram to Reservoir Station.
- Support safer public transport that will appeal to more passengers, including the elderly.
- Monitor the implementation of the troubled myki system with respect to ease-of-use and privacy impacts of data collection.
Transparency and Accountability of Government
Top- Strengthen measures to curb political advertising using public funds.
- Tighten disclosure of political donations and advocate for fair public funding of election campaigns for parties and independent candidates.
- Oppose political "dirt units" and tighten controls on campaign material to ensure accountability.
- Move to reform Parliament to ensure ministers answer questions.
- Make ministerial advisers accountable and available to inquiries (e.g. The Windsor Hotel affair).
- Oppose the transfer of personal information to private companies to counter community campaigns.
- Advocate for the open disclosure of public interest information by Government. It should not take a freedom of information request to find out information on which to judge the effectiveness and integrity of Government.
- Support Parliamentary reforms comparable to those achieved by the federal independents and those set out in the charter of the three independents elected to the Victorian Parliament in 1999.
Pokies and gaming machines
Top
- Tighten controls on gaming machines and work to reduce numbers.
- Advocate for increased support for research on the social impacts of gaming machines.
- Advocate for effective pre-commitment and betting limits in consultation with welfare and social justice agencies.
- Scrutinise licencing of gaming machines by Government.
- Advocate for targeted communication of gaming impacts within affected communities.
- Increase supports for people with gaming addictions.
- Promote the excessive numbers and expenditure on gaming machines to prompt stronger Government action.
