Frequently Asked Questions

Table of contents

Where can I find out more about your detailed policies?

Our grassroots campaign doesn’t have the resources of the major parties, so myself, and the Voices of Corangamite volunteers are working hard behind the scenes to assemble and load all the material onto our website. Our policies have been loaded onto the website and we will continue to add to them, and these FAQs, throughout the campaign.

When we have received and responded to emails from individuals or made pledges to organisations as a result of their enquiries, we are also publishing our responses here. If you have a specific question, we would love to hear from you.

Will a lot of independents with different agendas, and a minority government reduce the effectiveness of Parliament?

No. History shows that minority governments are more effective at cooperation and compromise. Australia’s 27th and only female PM, Julia Gillard led an effective minority government (2010-13) with the support of Independent MPs and the Australian Greens.  Despite fierce attacks from the opposition leader, Tony Abbott and incessant media scrutiny she served a full term, passing significant and transformative legislation due to her ability to negotiate and work together in the best interests of all Australians. 

Notable achievements include:  

  • Carbon Pricing Scheme 
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)  
  • Gonski school funding model 

A minority government better serves our community, and our democracy. By needing to consult across the parliament, a minority governments policies are more balanced, and more supported, they are more likely to innovate and find creative solutions. They can’t rely on their majority to pass controversial measures, and this creates for greater transparency, accountability, and a more responsible government.  

What is your stance on nuclear energy?

I soundly reject a radioactive future for Australians. I will actively stand in the way of nuclear power being allowed in this country. It is not a sustainable or affordable energy solution – it is an expensive distraction from the Liberal-National party to keep us locked into a carbon economy, propping up oil and gas companies for another ten years, while costing our planet. 

Nuclear power stations need billions of litres of water a year to run. In one of the driest countries on earth, where would that water come from? Nuclear power is incredibly vulnerable to drought: In France, a country with significantly more water than Australia, more than half of its nuclear power stations were offline in 2022 due to drought. Nuclear doesn’t safeguard our energy security, it creates vulnerabilities that will affect us all!

In the event of a hung parliament, which seems likely, who will you align with to enable them to form government – Liberal or Labor?

In the event of a hung parliament I will only negotiate to form government with other parties who are committed to maintaining the nuclear energy prohibition in Australia.

At the moment that is not the Liberal party, however, should they abandon this ill-conceived bid to send us down an expensive, toxic, water-hungry energy path, then I would be open to further discussions with them.

How will you save nature and stop species loss?

The Bellarine and Surfcoast have such incredible natural assets and it is so important that we work to protect and better connect our remnant vegetation. To date, I have been engaged in the community consultations occurring around the distinctive areas and landscapes driven by the Victorian government, and as a federal member, I will continue to advocate for protection our bushland and greenscapes at all levels.

I will push for the much-needed reform to the EPBC Act so we can stop leading the world in extinction and instead be leaders in environmental stewardship.

I will be advocating for improved resources for environmental management, including secure and ongoing funding for Indigenous Rangers, and support for community Landcare across the country.

Will there be partisan support for Devlin’s Road reserve sports facility upgrade in Ocean Grove?

Equity for women and girls in sport, and everywhere else, is an important part of my campaign. I’m not the only one that remembers a time when girls playing footy were told to hang up their boots at age 12 because there was no more opportunity for them to be involved. The growth of women and girls sporting teams in our region has been impressive, and it is so important that we have the facility to accommodate this. We know that sport has direct relationships to health, wellbeing, confidence and resilience – and these are all fundamentals to a happy, healthy and thriving community. 

Community sport shouldn’t be a political football. All parties need to be getting behind this local proposal with their bipartisan support to fully fund the proposed facility.  I will also continue to liaise with council and community about the need for other new and upgraded facilities throughout our region.  I’d like to think that every kid in Corangamite has equitable access to good sporting fields and change room facilities, regardless of their gender, and the team sport they play.   

The global political climate is making many people feel fearful for the future. What are your policies for protecting trans and gender diverse people?

As your community independent, I am standing on a platform of Equity, Integrity and Climate Action.  I will not tolerate the growth of hate, discrimination and division in our community. I will advocate for changes to policy settings that cause harm to and discriminate against, gender diverse people, as well as other marginalised groups including the LGBTQIA+ community, women, culturally diverse people, and people with disabilities.  

Respect, inclusivity, equity, and kindness are the values that I live by, and I won’t be buying into manufactured culture wars that would see programs defunded, curriculums changed, or transphobic xenophobes emboldened. These kind of culture wars are a political distraction and plaything of the right, but they directly harm individuals and impact social harmony and community wellbeing. It is not okay. 

You can be confident that I will stand in parliament as your ally. I will hold the line, and, in these troubling times, continue to move it forward. I will always strive for true equity and inclusivity – where we all feel safe in our homes and communities, and where each of us has the opportunity to achieve our dreams.  

Will you work with Wadawurrung in the Corangamite region? How will you advocate for First Nations people?

It is so important that I work closely with Wadawurrung and all First Nations people in the Corangamite region to ensure that we continue to improve the cultural safety of our community.

This needs to happen at all levels – from the simple: standing beside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags; acknowledging and respecting Wadawurrung as Traditional Owners whose Country, culture and history continue to shape our region; to the more complex—ensuring that First Nations voices are driving the policy changes needed to close the gaps that exist across health, education, child mortality, employment, justice, safety, housing, language and wellbeing.

I support Australia working toward a treaty with First Nations peoples that recognises sovereignty, restores rights and acknowledges the truths of the past. I also support changing the date of Australia day so it is not on a day that is hurtful and divisive, and all Australians can come together in peace and harmony and celebrate our great nation.

What is your response to the escalating conflict in the Middle East? (Israel – Palestine)

The conflict in the Middle East is a tragedy – especially for the women and children who are suffering the most. While it’s an issue of deep concern for many in our community, I believe it must not divide us here at home. I support Australia’s current diplomatic approach and backs calls for a ceasefire and a long-term two-state solution. I affirm the rights of both Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace and safety.

As an Independent, I will always advocate for peace, human rights, and respectful, inclusive dialogue in our community.

I believe all parties must comply with International Law and does not support Australia contributing arms to the conflict. While acknowledging the complexity of the situation, I am choosing to focus my efforts locally – on addressing housing, food, and financial insecurity in Corangamite, where I can make a tangible difference.

Will you nominate 495 000 hectares of Takayna / Tarkine, including Australia’s largest temperate rainforests, for World Heritage listing?

Yes. We must value nature and protect it for future generations. World Heritage listing is an appropriate protection measure for the incredible Takayna. The listing will create other lasting value for Australians and Tasmanians, including protection of a significant carbon sink, a tourism hotspot, and a place where the significant natural and cultural heritage provides endless opportunities for us to learn about, educate others and investigate the history and science that affects our present and future.

The socio-economic impacts of a world heritage listing will be important to Tasmania, opening up employment opportunities within Takayna, and creating many opportunities for other businesses, and employees, in the travel, hospitality and tourism sectors.

Would you remove industrial fish farms from Tasmania’s waters?

Yes. Because their practices have been so poor, foreign-owned companies are literally killing fish, endangering species and destroying ecosystems. A lack of transparency and insufficient regulation has caused Tasmanian farmed salmon to lose their social licence.

Australians don’t want to eat fish that is killing Tasmania, and they don’t want their natural assets to be beholden to large companies, so they can turn a profit. We need to land tough regulations on industry, close down operations that don’t comply, and seek alternative ways to produce the fish we need without destroying our natural environment.

Will you support a ban on krill fishing and protect Antarctica’s waters?

Yes. We need to protect Antarctica’s waters from industrial super trawlers who continue to plunder significant amounts of krill so it can be made into petfood and spat into repulsive fish factories full of disease.

This krill is the foundation of the Antarctic ecosystem and an important food source for whales and other wildlife. I will back a total ban on krill fishing at the next CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) meeting.

Will you vote to end native forest logging in Australia?

Yes. Our native forests are important habitats and refuges for biodiversity that must be protected. At the same time, timber is an important material for construction, furniture and other goods. These uses lock carbon up for years to come; are sustainable and renewable, unlike plastics and metals.

It is important that we maintain a timber industry that is focussed on plantation timber, rather than native forests, and our governments should support this transition. Where native forest logging is not able to feasibly transition to plantation timber, and there is forecasted impact on jobs and townships, we must ensure that there are structural supports for individuals to transition to alternative employment.

Who are you preferencing?

As your Community Independent, I am running on a platform of Integrity, Equity and Climate Action. This means that it is important that I am transparent about my values and policies, and also that I have respect for your ability to make your own informed decisions.

I am not making preference deals with other parties and hold fast to the belief that every voter should decide for themselves. I hope that you will consider me for your no.1 vote and then number the remaining candidates according to who next best represents your values, making sure that you put a number all the remaining boxes.

I’m not here to do backroom deals. If elected, every vote I cast in Parliament will be a conscious vote, based on what’s right for the community – not party politics.

To encourage informed, values-based voting I have reviewed the policies of the other candidates and provided my evaluation of where they stand comparatively in terms of Integrity, Equity and Climate Change. You can see my evaluation here:

There will be no preference deals, no party pressure, just genuine, independent representation. 

What’s your involvement with the community?

I have called the Bellarine home for nearly 20 years and I am absolutely dedicated to our community, contributing my time, energy and skills across environment and farming, education, and sport, including:

  • Bellarine Landcare (President 5yrs, Vice President 4yrs, Member 15yrs.)
  • Drysdale Primary School Council (8 yrs)
  • Drysdale Tennis Club committee and as a community coach (15 yrs)
  • Bellarine Secondary College School Council (2 yrs)
  • Parent volunteer at Drysdale Soccer Club (10 yrs)
  • Peninsula Sharks Women’s Football & Drysdale Junior Football and Netball (2 yrs)
  • In 2023 I received the City of Greater Geelong Women Community Life: Climate Action award.

What is a community independent?

A community independent is a candidate who isn’t tied to any political party. They’re backed by their local community, not big donors or party machines. Their priorities are shaped by listening to the people they represent.

The movement has grown rapidly across Australia, driven by “Voices of” community groups who are calling for integrity, transparency, and real climate action in politics.

Read more here: https://www.communityindependentsproject.org/faqs

What is your stance on trans girls and women in sport?

Participation in sport has so many benefits to our physical and mental health, as well as our social and emotional wellbeing. Everyone, regardless of their gender should have the opportunity to participate in the sport that they choose.

The Australian Human Rights Commission established guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in sport in 2019 and outlined the importance of leadership creating a culture of inclusion, and the impacts of direct and indirect discrimination on trans and gender diverse people. Discrimination against people because of their gender is unlawful, and there are strict criteria to obtain exemption based on evidence-based unfair advantage.

It will be so important going forward, that sporting clubs are resourced to update their facilities to accommodate trans and gender diverse participants and ensure that their culture is one that values inclusion and equity.

Where do you stand in terms of funding for healthcare and Medicare in the future?

In my policy Investing in education and caring for people, I outline how important it is that we increase the capacity of the public health system through additional funding and staffing and ensure PBS medicines remain affordable and accessible to all.

As far as Medicare goes, it can go much further than it does at the moment. There should be no gap payment for people at the doctor because Medicare should be funded sufficiently. Mental health care shouldn’t be restricted to a capped amount per year, and Medicare should provide for dental care. Most of us have teeth, and we need them to eat, to smile, and to have a chance at getting a job. It shouldn’t just be wealthy people that can afford to look after their teeth.

If we stopped paying absurd subsidies to large corporations, made them accountable for the tax they should pay, and cancelled the $368 billion dollar submarines we may never see, then we could look after all of our community health needs. They are our tax dollars after all.

What is your stance on marriage equality for those who are disabled?

Love is love. If two consenting adults want to marry then no-one has the right to stand in their way.