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.
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.
Defence
- Top question: Should Australia pull out of the AUKUS alliance?
- David Arnault added: “Should we ask for our $800 million back?”
- Pete Granger had a couple of follow-up questions: “If opposed to AUKUS, do you have an alternative plan for dealing with the real prospect of a Chinese maritime blockade to our immediate north?
- Peter Carden asked whether candidates would support national conscription.
- Blue asked whether Australia should continue to provide military and other support to Ukraine to resist Russian invasion.
- There were many questions on climate change/action. Several people asked candidates to state whether they believed that global warming was caused by burning fossil fuels, and whether they would commit to acting on facts rather than opinion.
- Pete Musk asked “What practical steps are you proposing to mitigate climate impacts in the Monash electorate such as coastal erosion, drought, storms and floods?”
- Meryl Tobin wanted to know whether candidates believed carbon credits were effective in protecting the environment.
- Jonathan Tupson submitted a quick multiple choice: “Do you consider the Government’s emission reduction target of 43% emission reductions by 2030 to be too low, about right or too high?”
- Top question: Do you believe nuclear should be part of Australia’s energy mix?
- Wendy Davies wrote: “People in Moe are worried about their jobs as coal fired power generation wanes. How would you support the transition of coal fired generation towards renewable energy sources?”
- Peter Carden wanted to know “Given our current energy crisis, what would you do to keep manufacturing competitive and keep the cost of energy for consumers affordable?”
- Aileen Venning focused on the home: “The average energy rating of Australian homes built before 2010 is 2.8 stars out of 10. This is costly financially and for the environment. How would you address this issue?
- Danielle wrote “What would you do to help low income people afford housing?”
- Blue asked: “Do you believe the current approaches will solve the housing crisis?"
- Beth Banks, Housing Matters, asked whether candidates would support mandates requiring new developments to include a percentage of affordable and disability housing.
The others
The environment, housing, gambling, immigration, integrity and reconciliation all attracted several questions.
The environment, housing, gambling, immigration, integrity and reconciliation all attracted several questions.
- Mike Cleeland asked “Will you or your party develop a national strategy to respond to coastal erosion?”
- Maurice Schinkel wanted to know whether candidates support revoking the Gippsland Declared Area for offshore wind, considering the presence of cetaceans and migratory seabirds.
- Peter Carden asked whether immigration levels should be reduced given our national housing crisis.
- Felicia Di Stefano wanted to know whether candidates supported increasing the annual refugee intake from 20,000 to 35,000.
- Several people asked how Australia should move forward on reconciliation and closing the gap, following the defeat of the Voice referendum.
- Several people had concerns about gambling. From David Arnault: “Do you favour removing gambling ads from television and the internet?”
- Rob Humphrys asked: "Will you resist being beholden to or bullied by vested interests, eg. fossil fuel, gambling, banking, etc?"
- There were also questions about addressing the mental health crisis, chronic pain, local services for people escaping domestic violence, services for vulnerable teenagers, improving local access to specialists, changes to Medicare and continued funding of the NDIS.
Local questions
Only a small number of questions related to local issues.
Questions for individual candidates
Only a small number of questions related to local issues.
- Cr Ron Bauer wanted to know whether candidates would support an aquatic centre for Cowes.
- Donna Lancaster asked whether they would commit to replacing the Wonthaggi pool, now nearing its sixth decade. She added a declaration of interest. “I'm involved with the swim club. There aren't enough lanes for the kids to train in each night and then have the general public also fit.”
- Mike Cleeland wanted to know whether the parties would provide funding to develop the Bass Coast Dinosaur Trail.
- He also asked whether they would support a new Phillip Island bridge given the current one is now 16 years past its use by date.
Questions for individual candidates
By far the most common question directed at the Liberal Party’s Mary Aldred relate to the Coalition’s proposal to build seven modular nuclear plants, including one at the Loy Yang Power Station. Several people asked about safeguards for people in the region if the reactor broke down.
Mick Green asked a series of detailed questions including: “Given a small reactor concept is yet to be commercially operating, how can you be confident that it can be safety built and commissioned?”
Others wanted to know what would happen to the offshore wind energy zones if the Coalition won government.
The Coalition proposal to cut 36,000 public servants also attracted several questions. “What services currently being undertaken by the public service do you believe should be cut?” Michael Whelan asked.
Mick Green asked a series of detailed questions including: “Given a small reactor concept is yet to be commercially operating, how can you be confident that it can be safety built and commissioned?”
Others wanted to know what would happen to the offshore wind energy zones if the Coalition won government.
The Coalition proposal to cut 36,000 public servants also attracted several questions. “What services currently being undertaken by the public service do you believe should be cut?” Michael Whelan asked.
Questions directed at the ALP’s Tully Fletcher mostly related to the Labor Government’s environmental record during its first term, including the decision to shelve a proposed federal environmental protection agency until next term.
There were also some late questions around salmon farming after the Labor Government amended the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act on Budget Day to protect Tasmania’s salmon industry despite major environmental concerns.
There were also some late questions around salmon farming after the Labor Government amended the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act on Budget Day to protect Tasmania’s salmon industry despite major environmental concerns.
For independent Deb Leonard there were two overwhelming questions:
- Given that you've received nearly $400,000 from Climate 200 for this election, how can you describe yourself as independent?
- If you are elected, will you support Labor or Liberal in the event of a hung parliament?” (We already know Ms Leonard will decline to answer that one.)
Sophie Cuttriss asked the same question of independent Russell Broadbent. Who would he support in a hung parliament?
Frank Schooneveldt wanted to know why Mr Broadbent was running in the 2025 federal election at 74 years of age given that high court judges had to retire at 70 years of age.
Frank Schooneveldt wanted to know why Mr Broadbent was running in the 2025 federal election at 74 years of age given that high court judges had to retire at 70 years of age.
Family First’s Geoff Dethlefs will be quizzed on whether he believes climate change was caused by humans. (We already know the answer to that: No. He has stated that he "sees the slight warming of the planet as a cyclic matter and that it will cool again".)