The Mail asked the Casey candidates three questions ahead of the Federal Election on Saturday 18 May.
Here are the responses we received, in ballot paper order.
Peter Charleton, Independent
What are your top three priorities for the area?
1. To provide our community with a representative who will freely and openly express the views, needs and concerns of those who raise such matters with me.
2. To provide our community with a representative who isn’t bound/pressured to follow a particular party line.
3. To provide our community with a representative who will set an example by cutting personal expenses, entitlement claims and rally against MP pay rises.
What’s your personal connection to the electorate?
I spent many school holidays in Healesville with my grandparents, helping pa with his vegie garden and racehorses. Some may remember my grandad, who was affectionately known as ‘Buster’.
My family moved to Dixons Creek five and a bit years ago. My daughters attend local public schools.
My partner gets involved in school productions, painting props and backdrops.
In January 2016 l began a free jumping castle service which has seen some 320 or so bookings, helping many local families, clubs and organisations.
Why do you want to be an MP?
l don’t look like an MP, l don’t speak like an MP, I don’t even like the title MP, but l am willing to become YOUR MP and take a few hits for the team.
I’m your typical everyday Aussie bloke who has had a gutful of career politicians playing games and abusing taxpayer dollars.
Current day politicians have a knack for finding that big cheque book when an election is called.
I want to educate other MPs that worthy projects must be approved on merit and funded irrespective of where we are in the election cycle.
Antony Calabro, Rise Up Australia Party
What are your top three priorities for the area?
1. Serve the electorate not dictate to it. I am not a career politician, I am business-minded.
2. Implement policies that strengthen the family unit, which is the backbone of a strong society.
3. Decrease red-tape to help small business/primary producers and thus employment.
What’s your personal connection to the electorate?
I currently live in Monbulk, part of Casey, so have a vested interest like the electorate does.
Why do you want to be an MP?
I am not a politician and never wanted to get into politics but I see politicians not following through on their promises or compromising or doing what’s popular instead of what right based on facts not opinion.
I have my own business and have learnt you can’t run a business that way let alone a country or any electorate.
Ross McPhee, Labour DLP
Did not respond by deadline.
Travis Barker, Animal Justice Party
What are your top three priorities for the area?
1. Ban live export. Each year, millions of animals suffer on lengthy sea journeys.
2. Combat the climate emergency. Urgent action must be taken to address global climate destabilisation. We will legislate to protect forests and marine habitats from further destruction and invest in clean energy.
3. Protect wildlife habitats. Land clearing is an animal welfare disaster, displacing and killing huge numbers of wildlife. We will introduce laws to protect wildlife habitats.
What’s your personal connection to the electorate?
I have lived in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges for almost a decade and operate a small local business providing tuition for children.
Community involvement has always been important to me and has led me to being appointed as the treasurer at a local kindergarten.
Alongside my wife and family, we gave our time to support the community during the 2019 Victorian bushfires by transporting food and medical supplies to shelters.
Why do you want to be an MP?
My interest in the Australian Political system grew in my teenage years as I participated in programs such as Youth Parliament.
Since then I have always been an active member of the community and a voice for the animals and environment.
Animal and environmental protection has not been a priority in Australian law.
This has spurred me to take action and run for election in Casey.
Wendy Starkey, United Australia Party
Did not respond by deadline.
Ryan Leslie Clark, Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party
Did not respond by deadline.
Tony Smith, Liberal
What are your top three priorities for the area?
1. Continuing to build a stronger economy so we can guarantee the essential services that
Australians rely on. Our stronger economy is delivering more jobs and increasing funding for schools, hospitals and roads.
2. Major road upgrades to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety. These include additional lanes and traffic lights on Maroondah Hwy in Coldstream, fixing the bottleneck at the Dorset Road, additional lanes on Canterbury Road and on Wellington Road, and $300 million to seal dirt roads in the Dandenongs.
3. I am committed to easing the pressure on families through reduced taxes and rewarding small business for having a go.
What’s your personal connection to the electorate?
I have lived here with my family in our local community for just over 16 years.
Throughout this time I have worked closely with individuals, families, community groups and sports clubs who are driven to make our community stronger and safer.
It is their values and commitment to our region that continues to motivate me every day to work to make Casey the best it can be.
Why do you want to be an MP?
To make a difference and help our community move ahead.
Being the Federal Member for Casey is an honour and a privilege.
I am passionate about helping people and working with our community to get results.
If I am re-elected I will work hard and deliver my comprehensive local plan to build a stronger and safer community and stronger local economy.
Bill Brindle, Australian Labor Party
What are your top three priorities for the area?
From speaking to locals, the biggest issues are:
1. Education. Better school funding and the biggest-ever investment in early childhood education.
2. Health. Better funding for hospitals and Medicare.
3. Jobs. Restoring weekend penalty rates and supporting the tradie pay guarantee.
What’s your personal connection to the electorate?
I have lived in the Dandenong Ranges for many years and raised two daughters in the area with my partner.
I have also run my own small business in the area.
Why do you want to be an MP?
I consider the seat of Casey my home and, unfortunately, there is so much that has been sorely neglected over the last few years.
Achieving practical improvements in services and infrastructure is really important to myself and other locals and this is what I am committed to if I am honoured enough to be elected as your local representative.
Jenny Game-Lopata, The Greens
Did not respond by deadline.
Jayden O’Connor, The Great Australian Party
What are your top three priorities for the area?
1. Local infrastructure maintenance and upgrades without cost to the locals via consolidated revenue.
2. Reverting local governments to a municipal department of the state compliant to the Commonwealth constitution, not a third tier of government.
3. More income through the front door of the family home, local businesses and the community as a whole.
What’s your personal connection to the electorate?
I live near local producers and see the affects first-hand of unfair regulation and legislation.
Why do you want to be an MP?
I have never wanted to be an MP but I don’t see the changes needed happening.
I see it is getting worse and it needs to stop so all people can have trust in parliament once again and I and the Great Australian Party will make that happen.
All candidates have already sworn the correct oath to do so and serve the people first and foremost.
