Fairfax Digital Media Central West has given Parke's Federal Election candidates the opportunity to answer the questions our readers posed to them via our social media sites.
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In the lead up to the election we will run a question each day, with the responses we received from candidates.
Each candidate was contacted via phone and email. Their responses are below.
* Mark Coulton (The Nationals)
I stand for the interests of regional Australia. I am proud to have been elected to represent the Parkes electorate in the Australian Parliament at the last two elections.
I believe in the strength of community and the ability of Australian people to be innovative in the face of challenging global circumstances.
Australia’s economic situation needs to be addressed as the first order of business, and we have also made several policy commitments that are crucial for regional Australia including a mobile phone black spots programme, an affordable national broadband network, the inland rail from Melbourne to Brisbane through Western New South Wales, removing the carbon tax and reducing cost of living pressures.
My Nationals colleagues and I have a plan for regional Australia which is built on strong economic management and a fair share for the regions.
I stand for a fair go for every Australian, no matter their geographic location.
* Matt Parmeter (The Greens)
“Care for the people. Care for the planet”.
That’s what the Greens stand for. That’s who we are.
The Greens look directly at the issues, and then we put in the best solutions we can.
Take global warming, for example. Carbon dioxide concentrations are higher than they have been for 800,000 years, the planet is hotter, and our society is runs on fossil fuels. What to do ?
I want us to go hard on renewable energy. And get a lot of jobs out of it.
There will be 300 jobs at Nyngan next year, building the 100 MW solar farm there. That’s great.
NSW has 12,000 MW of coal fired power stations, so there is plenty of room for extra solar farms after the Nyngan plant is completed.
A new industry for our region should be exporting solar electricity to Sydney and Melbourne.
We want those jobs in our area. The University of Melbourne/ BZE study (2010) forecast, that if Australia went to 100% renewable electricity, there could be up to $75 billion dollars spent on solar power infrastructure in inland NSW.
Many jobs for us, apprenticeships for our kids, and vibrant functioning communities.
* Neil Gorman (Palmer United Party)
I want mature governance instead of childish pointscoring in Canberra.
Our economy must be run with social compassion but with sound business principles. The top six ministers in our current government have a combined total of two years business experience between them - I have 36 years professional and/or management experience all by myself so I believe I can contribute something our current politicians haven't got a clue about. And I wouldn't pretend to be in the economic class of Clive Palmer.
I also belong to a party whose whole economic thrust is to accomplish things by creating jobs and stimulating the economy while minimising taxation. Sounds like a return to the good old days of sensible politics doesn't it?
* Michelle Ryan (Christian Democratic Party)
I stand for Christian and family values. I stand for ensuring that families and communities are thought of first when any policy or legislation is considered. If any proposal is not good for our families or fair for our communities, I will seek to amend it or oppose it.
I want to see farmers and small businesses have access to a larger part of the market and grow. Taxes which prevent growth must be changed. I would remove the carbon tax and mining tax, and reduce and ultimately abolish the payroll tax.
I will fight for better health services, especially mental health services. I earnestly desire to see young people reaching their full potential, and for them to have every opportunity to do that, without having to leave their communities.
I am a strong advocate for ensuring our own Australian produce and products are valued, protected, and given priority over imports.
* Brendan Byron (Labor)
I believe in investing in the future, and making sure we all have the same access to new technologies, healthcare, and education, no matter where we live.
I think a better standard of education answers a lot of the problems facing our region. We do okay - I wouldn't be where I am without support from passionate country teachers -- but a greater investment in the resources those teachers need is vital to countering youth unemployment, crime, and urban drift.
I stand for healthcare. I don’t think it’s fair people in Cobar need to drive all the way into Dubbo to get some fairly basic medical help, or people in Gulgong need to protest to have any healthcare at all.
I stand for equal access to technology in regional areas, and a universal price on access to high speed broadband - so we can all benefit from the digital economy.
TOMORROW: What is the first thing you would do if you were elected?