By McKay T.
As one of the key seats in the upcoming federal election, the Ku-ring-gai Chamber of Commerce’s “Meet the Candidates” event was a brilliant opportunity for me to see all the Bradfield candidates on the same platform and answering the same questions. I had been to a similar event at the Zenith Theatre, but independent Andy Yin and Greens candidate Harjit Singh could not come. Unfortunately, Harjit was also absent tonight and was replaced by the Berowra Greens candidate Martin Cousins, who had run for Bradfield in the past. However, Andy Yin was present, along with Liberal Gisele Kapterian, Labor Louise McCallum, and Independent Nicolette Boele, meaning four out of five of the leading candidates were there.
Zenith Theatre’s audience was relatively civil throughout the event and comprised environmentally conscious individuals. This event at the Greengate Hotel was a different story. Several people booed during the Acknowledgement of Country, which shocked me. These people were met with their boos, and people telling the president of the Chamber, Adrienne McLean, to continue going. After she had finished, someone in front of me asked why One Nation and Trumpets of Patriot were not invited. That memorable beginning foreshadowed what was to come over the next two and a half hours.
The night was divided into three areas: small businesses, infrastructure and transport, and the environment. The audience’s main concerns emerged throughout these sections, focusing on businesses, energy, and the housing crisis.
Louise mainly talked about what Labor had done in the past three years, as well as repeating their promises, including:
- Improving payment times
- Expanding access to free TAFE programs
- $20,000 depreciation asset write-off and multiple energy rebates for small businesses
- A 30% subsidy for solar batteries
- Initiatives supporting the mental health of small business owners, including free one-on-one sessions with experienced individuals
- Holding energy companies accountable
- Creating 61 new mental health care facilities and training 50,000 new doctors
- Driving down the costs for many types of medicine, including medicine for menopause
- Making fee-free TAFE permanent
- Increasing funding to state primary schools
- Installation of community batteries
- Creating an Environmental Protection Authority
- Introduce a nationwide disaster fund
- Allocating $4,000 for people fleeing domestic violence
When Louise mentioned the war in Ukraine driving up the price of gas and electricity, she was immediately booed, indicating that it was a contentious topic among this crowd. Louise also discussed why Labor was not encouraging access to superannuation by comparing it to a similar policy in New Zealand, which was classified as a failure, citing a 2.1% plunge in home ownership, with a 5.7% plunge in home ownership under 30.
Gisele discussed Liberal policies, including:
- Commitment to a $30,000 asset writeoff
- 12-month fuel excise tax rebate – she characterised this as a structural change due to the supply chain
- Allocating 9 billion dollars to Medicare
- Increasing the amount of free mental health sessions provided by Medicare from 10 to 20
- Creating 270 new medical practices
- Create regulations to prevent microplastics from entering our system
- Introducing a two year ban on foreign investment into Australian properties
- Give first-home buyers access to superannuation when purchasing homes
Gisele discussed extensively the tension between the need for more homes and the preservation of nature, a central issue with which Nicolette Boele agreed. Many of the achievements she discussed were surrounding the efforts of the NSW Liberals – a common trend among the candidates, who proposed and debated issues that pertained more to the state government. While the crowd generally agreed with many Liberal policies, she was heckled a few times, particularly regarding the ban on non-Australians purchasing properties, as many members wanted this ban to be permanent rather than temporary for two years. This was one of the policies that Labor agreed with.
Nicolette referenced her comprehensive policy booklet throughout the panel, but focused on:
- Simplifying tax and scaled compliance for small businesses
- Increasing the definition from 15 to 25 people
- Support regarding cybercrimes, such as scams, which have impacted many small business owners throughout Bradfield
- No payroll tax
- Making instant asset write-off permanent
- Reducing waitlines for mental health, especially as men over 50 tend not to ask for support
- Privatising bus services and increasing the number of buses
- More affordable early childhood education
- Give local organisations a seat when discussing the creation of an Environmental Protection Authority
Nicolette criticised the Liberal fuel and diesel rebate, describing it as a “sugar hit”. Gisele responded to this by emphasising how it was a structural change through supply chains.
Martin, on behalf of the Greens, talked about
- Revitalising shopping centres
- Supporting options for greater densification around transport hubs
- Supporting work from home to incentivise people to spend money in local businesses
- Electrifying Australia through solar batteries
- Having 50-cent transport fees
- Installing a monorail from the Central Coast to New South Wales
- Creating more cycleways
- Making higher education free, and thus getting rid of the $80,000 to $100,000 HECS debt
- Including dental in Medicare and increasing the rebate
- Minimising the loss of tree canopy, acknowledging it was difficult to solve
- Electricifying transport
- Reducing oil production in Australia
- Protect 80% of heritage
- More social and affordable housing
When Martin mentioned using solar and wind as a way to drive energy prices down, he was immediately booed by the crowd.
Andy Yin’s policies included:
- Small businesses receiving potential grants
- Installation of solar batteries with subsidies and grants, including a reduction of e-waste
- Cutting the red tape to increase government efficiency
- Upgrading transport hubs across Bradfield
- Create electric buses to reduce pollution
- Emphasise the importance of education, with a focus on AI technology
- Encouraging electric cars
- Cutting immigration, basing entrance off their contribution and academics to prevent people from taking advantage of the system
During his discussion on technology and education, Andy talked about his AI robotic dog, which he has taken around Chatswood, describing it as a representation of scientific innovation and technology that connects the community.
While the political crowd did not necessarily align with mine, reflecting on the event made me grateful that I live in a democratic system where people can openly express their views. There was no physical violence during or after the event, and I observed many of the hecklers speaking politely to the candidates afterwards. As I have mostly found myself among more socially progressive crowds, this event reminded me of the many Australians who do not share my view. Despite the confrontational audience, most of the candidates spoke well. Nicolette Boele and Gisele Kapterian were the standout public speakers of the night, although I believed that Boele’s explanations held more substance.
With the election now drawing near, I urge anyone reading this to research the candidates in their area. Whether it’s a quick Google or diving into each person’s individual or party website, make sure you vote with an informed mind.
You can watch the whole event on YouTube.
