Brett Tunbridge, Australian Federation Party
1. What is your stance on climate change and your policies regarding it?
The Federation Party has a Comprehensive regenerative climate policy with the aims of reducing the adverse effects on the environment by the revitalisation of the farming sector through reducing agriculture costs, the reliance on toxic chemicals and the over regulation of farms .In partnership with Landcare Australia and Indigenous leaders, a new and revitalised ag sector will emerge where the job of a “farmer” will again be an honoured family tradition.
2. How do you plan on ensuring the safety of the roads in the Southern Downs?
Our roads are our life. This is a highly personal issue for me as I have experienced family tragedy on a badly constructed and poorly maintained local road. I will advocate strongly for a broader and comprehensive program of reconstruction and sensible use of resources in targeted areas and a long term road, rail and air transport planning scheme to alleviate misuse of infrastructure with efficiency and safety as a focus.
3. What are your policies regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)?
The NDIS system has the potential to be of great use to its beneficiaries, The Federation Party will trim the multi level bureaucracy that is preventing its correct access to disabled and frail Australians and place responsibility for its administration where it belongs, with allied healthcare practitioners that know the issues facing each recipient personally.
4. How will you combat the rising cost of living?
The “rising cost of living” is a misnomer, poor economic performance by successive governments over decades has led us to the point where we as a nation are impoverished and sliding further down the slope of economic ruin daily. All foreign agreements will be reviewed in the interests of what benefit they provide us and all decisions will be based on this criteria. The Taxation, Banking, Finance and superannuation industries will be likewise reviewed.
5. What are your policies regarding the Ag Visa?
Our priority is to get Australians into the ag jobs where they are so desperately needed, properly paid skilled overseas workers are welcome to participate but perhaps it is time to look at our approach to performing these jobs ourselves by incentivising our own people to do this, a million schoolkids who have never picked an apple? tens of thousands of homeless around the country? unemployed? Allow them to keep the money they make, easy!
6. How will you and your party support our growers, given the rising costs of production?
By the implementation of alternative crop, fruit and fodder options based upon a restructured CSIRO and real consultation with producers, effective methodology and the removal of red tape and restructuring of crippling debt loads to offset rising production costs. Proper taxation review for our primary producers and better communication within the rural farming sector as to their needs from the government.
