Where do I stand?

Regional Victoria deserves a fair share

There's ample evidence that regional, rural and remote Australia doesn't always get a fair deal.

That's my primary focus.

We need people to want to keep making their lives, raising families, building businesses and creating opportunities beyond our capital cities. Our state's prosperity depends on it.

I'm not asking for special treatment for Northern Victoria. Just our fair share.

Here are some of the areas where I'll be pushing hardest for better outcomes.

Healthcare access

This is one of the areas where regional Victorians feel the disadvantage most keenly.

Of course health infrastructure and services are expensive, particularly across large distances and smaller populations. But that shouldn't mean we simply accept whatever’s offered.

We need and deserve the same access to healthcare as all Victorians. I’ll fight for more effective planning for our regional health workforce and services that recognise the realities of living outside Melbourne.

I want to see smarter coordination between governments, healthcare providers and communities, and far more attention to the gaps that make people travel unreasonable distances for essential care.

Housing affordability and supply

It's around 15 years since I first started working in affordable housing and, sadly, we keep moving in the wrong direction.

I've long championed a housing first approach. It's nigh impossible for people to resolve other challenges in their lives if they don't have safe, secure and affordable housing.

And housing shortages affect whole communities. They make it harder to attract workers, sustain businesses and deliver essential services.

There are terrific examples of innovative housing solutions from Australia and around the world. We need the political will, investment and sensible planning to pursue what works.

Housing isn't a luxury. It's the foundation on which so much else depends. Think Maslow’s triangle: until we address this fundamental need, lots of our other actions and spending only help those already towards the pointy end.

Cost of living

I think about the State Budget much as I think about a household budget.

When you're struggling to pay for groceries, rent, childcare, medication, power or transport, you don't have the luxury of getting excited about shiny announcements that do little to ease those pressures.

We're in back-to-basics territory.

As anyone who's managed a tight household budget knows, you have to look hard at what's coming in, what's going out, what you owe and what you own.

I expect the Victorian Government to apply that same discipline.

Government can't control every price. But it can be much more thoughtful about spending priorities, the cost of essential services and the impact of its decisions on households already doing it tough.

Get the basics right first.

Crime and community safety

I've said it before (probably a thousand times): people don't come out of the womb bad.

Something happens along the way.

That doesn't excuse criminal behaviour. People deserve to feel safe, victims deserve support and there must be consequences for crime.

But if we're serious about reducing crime, we also have to address what contributes to it. Poverty, housing insecurity, disengagement from education, family violence and other circumstances that can set people on a difficult path.

Prevention and accountability aren't competing ideas. We need both.

And I think we need to talk about civility, too. Respectful behaviour, listening and taking responsibility should start with the people we elect to Parliament.

State government debt and financial management

I've run businesses and chaired boards. I've been the person holding up the sign that says, 'The buck stops here.'

I know what it means to be responsible for other people's money.

And I expect our government to take that responsibility just as seriously.

Borrowing can sometimes be justified. But every major spending decision should withstand proper scrutiny. What's the cost? What's the benefit? What are the alternatives? And can we afford it, not just today but well into the future?

Good financial management isn't simply about spending less. It's about setting priorities, managing risks and being accountable for results.

Our Parliament needs people who understand those fundamentals and are prepared to ask the hard questions.

Public transport

Here's a statistic worth thinking about.

Research with regional young people found that just 7% of those consulted could use local public transport to reach university, and only 10% could get to TAFE.

How can we expect young people to pursue education, training and employment if they can't get there?

And it isn't just young people. In many regional communities, getting to a medical appointment, a job or even the shops without a car can be an enormous challenge.

We need more practical and flexible transport solutions, developed around how people actually live and where they need to go.

A transport system that works for Melbourne won't necessarily work for Mildura, Shepparton or a small town in the Mallee. We need to plan accordingly.

Infrastructure

Yes, the roads. And the bridges, hospitals, train lines, schools and all the other infrastructure that keeps our communities functioning.

These are fundamental responsibilities of government, and regional Victoria deserves a fair share of the investment.

Maintenance matters just as much as new projects. There's not much point announcing exciting new infrastructure while existing assets deteriorate.

And as our regions grow, investment in essential services and infrastructure needs to keep pace.

It's another household budget lesson: there's little sense spending on the extras while the roof is leaking.

I want government investment decisions based on genuine need, long-term value and the realities facing our different communities.

Education and training

Meaningful work is a gift.

I learned that many years ago, working with people who were long-term unemployed and with refugees and asylum seekers trying to build new lives.

Education and training open doors. They build confidence, independence and opportunity.

At the same time, businesses across regional Victoria need skilled people, and too many struggle to find them.

I want stronger connections between education, training and regional employment opportunities. That means accessible schools, TAFE and other training pathways, and practical support for people who need to retrain or change direction.

We can't afford to waste people's potential.

Climate, energy and our natural environment

I don't believe we should have to choose between healthy communities, productive industries and a healthy natural environment.

We need all three.

Northern Victoria is a major food-producing region, with communities and industries that depend on our land, water and natural resources.

Decisions about climate, energy, land use and environmental protection have real consequences for people who live and work here.

I support a practical, evidence-based approach that balances environmental responsibilities with the needs of communities, businesses and future generations.

We need to plan carefully for change, listen to the people most affected and make sure the costs and benefits are fairly shared.

Short-term decisions can have consequences that last for decades. We need to get this right.

What this means in Parliament

I'm not going to pretend I have all the answers.

But I will ask questions, examine the evidence, listen to different perspectives and advocate for approaches that are fair, practical and in Northern Victoria's long-term interests.

And when I take a position on an important issue, I'll be prepared to explain why.

That's what you should expect from an independent representative.