As the July 2 federal election approaches, the Daily Liberal has asked the candidates for the seat of Parkes about what matters most to the people.
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Today Nationals candidate Mark Coulton, Labor candidate Kate Stewart, Greens candidate Matt Parmeter and Online Direct Democracy Party candidate John Ayton answer the question: Does government have a role to play in boosting regional jobs and, if yes, how would you do it?
KATE STEWART
Yes.
Obviously there's the old government job. But a better way to create sustainable long-term employment is to get the policy settings right for private industry.
First, I think we see a bit of chaos with local government, thanks to Mr Baird. Frustrating for locals and concerning for business. If there's one thing business needs, it's certainty over which jurisdiction they're in. They accept other changes, but the local government area should remain static.
So, I commit to working with local government to help them become more stable and less susceptible to state government whim and fancy.
Secondly, I will work with both state and local government to look at everything affecting local business commencement and retention, from tax regimes to sewerage, from road and rail infrastructure to labour market training, from water supply to distribution opportunities.
Third, I will work with Andrew Leigh to revive Standard Business Reporting to reduce red tape for employers and small business. And with Penny Wong to maximise investment opportunities for business in our electorate.
But, most importantly, to keep workforces healthy and skilled, every single time there is a vote, mine will be cast to protect Medicare and to fund #thefullGonski.
MARK COULTON
The Commonwealth government certainly plays a role in boosting regional jobs.
This is achieved through a range of initiatives including employment programmes, contribution of funding to construction of local infrastructure and securing international agreements to enhance trade and exports.
The Coalition recently announced its Youth Employment Package which would see an investment of $840.3 million over four years to assist up to 120,000 vulnerable young people take advantage of job opportunities.
In addition, the programme would encourage more local businesses to open the door to young job seekers by offering internship arrangements as well as wage subsidies.
In relation to local infrastructure, there are a range of projects currently underway across the Parkes electorate thanks to the Coalition Government.
In addition, projects such as the upgrade of the cattle sale facilities at the Dubbo Saleyards secured under the National Stronger Regions Fund are helping to create more job opportunities in our regional centres.
The Coalition Government’s powerful trifecta of securing Free Trade Agreements with China, Japan and Korea, as well as the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, all ensure the opening of substantial new trade and investment opportunities for Australia’s primary production boosting job opportunities across rural and regional NSW.
MATT PARMETER
Does Government have a role in boosting regional jobs? Government means us.
I know it doesn’t always seem that way. But government, in all its forms – local, state and federal; laws and regulations and taxes; benefits, pensions, infrastructure, services; schools and hospitals and courts, bridges, electricity, the army, NBN, diplomatic relations, providing dialysis machines, and speeding fines are meant to provide an overall benefit for all of us. Government means how we organise our society. Economically, federal government is about 25 per cent of the GDP.
Having government be well organised and efficiently managed is a tremendously difficult and complex task. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either ignorant or lying. Its difficult in Australia, its difficult in other countries, its difficult for any particular political group, it was difficult in the past and will be in the future.
To rephrase the question “Do we want more regional jobs?” Yes.
One area the Greens want to see a big boost in is the renewable energy sector. Solar and wind.
Through proper regulation, and through reverse auctions to purchase clean energy, we want to build a sustainable energy industry with 90 per cent renewable electricity by 2030.
In Australia there are currently 15,000 jobs in solar and wind, and Greens proposals would see that more than double to 30,000 by 2020. I want as many of those jobs in the Parkes electorate as we can get.
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The Daily Liberal offered each of the five candidates for the seat of Parkes the opportunity to express their views on a range of topics. Each candidate received the same list of questions to answer. Christian Democratic Party candidate Glen Ryan and Online Democratic Democracy Party candidate John Ayton did not respond.
The Daily Liberal will continue to run its candidate series, covering a wide range of issues, in the lead-up to Saturday’s poll.