By Catherine Watson

WHEN we asked Post readers for the questions they would like to ask Monash election candidates, the floodgates opened. We received dozens of responses and almost 300 questions.

Special thanks to Blue Barlow who canvassed eight of her friends to come up with 42 questions covering the spectrum from housing, health and education to immigration, reconciliation and foreign policy.  
                                                    
We’ve been told we’re heading for a “cost of living election” but only one question referred to the cost of living, and only a small number related to local issues. Far from having our hands out shouting “More! More! More!” for Monash, Post readers seem far more interested in national events.

The questions give a real insight into our interests and concerns, with defence, climate change, energy and affordable housing topping the list of topics. 

We can’t subject candidates to hundreds of questions, or they’d have no time for writing policies and kissing babies, so we’ve picked out the common threads. The Post will put a selection of questions to candidates during pre-election interviews.