DUBBO needs a cancer centre now.
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That was the message from independent senate candidate and Dubbo-based dental prosthetist Peter Muller ahead of Friday's declaration of NSW senate nominees.
The Australian Electoral Commission officially declared the senate candidates for NSW on Friday before positions on the ballot paper were drawn.
Mr Muller has thrown his support behind the proposal for a cancer centre in Dubbo, but said constituents across western NSW can't wait.
"We need tomorrow a centre in Dubbo. Not one day after the election, it could take years. We need it now," Mr Muller said.
"My daughter, she's 34, she got cancer so I know what I'm talking about. She had surgery and if she were here no one could help her so now she's in Germany for special treatment.
"It's not available in Australia so this [is] a part of my campaign."
Mr Muller was born in Germany but migrated to Australia in 1981 where he has worked in the remote communities of Lightning Ridge and Bourke as well as Dubbo.
He is running on a platform of universal dental care for all Australians, and said all of the nation's healthcare issues, as well as many social issues, "start in the mouth".
He proposes a multi-pronged approach to improving the health of Australians: introducing a tax on junk food to limit its consumption, and funding universal dental care and education through the money raised.
He predicts the scheme could raise about $500 billion per year over five years, with the funds to be spent only on health (through Medicare), education and related infrastructure.
"It's about health and education," Mr Muller said.
"For instance you build a house, the foundation has to sit very stable to carry on the rest and this is the opposite side.
"We have very weak foundation but we have lots of stuff, so the answer is health and education is the foundation of the nation."
If elected, Mr Muller has vowed to vote against any legislation that doesn't concern health and education.
Pre-poll voting for the senate and lower house candidates opens on Tuesday, June 14, with the locations and opening hours of early voting centres available at www.aec.gov.au.
