Name: Fiona Phillips
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Political Party: Australian Labor Party
Age: 49
Family: Mum of four, have been married to my husband for 21 years.
Where do you live? Callala.
What do you do for a living? Previously I was a local TAFE teacher, at the moment I am spending every day campaigning locally in Gilmore.
How long have you lived in the Gilmore electorate? I was born and raised here, and am raising my family here.
What is the best part of living in the Gilmore electorate?
Too many things to list! For starters there is the stunning natural beauty of the area, including countless beaches and stunning national parks. There are fantastic cafes, restaurants and pubs everywhere you look. But I would have to say the best part of living in the local area is the community. The people who live here are honest, down to earth, friendly, hard working and a joy to meet every day wherever I go.
Why are you running for the seat of Gilmore?
I believe that the local area has extraordinary potential and many talented people but that sadly it has been ignored for too long. If I am fortunate enough to be elected Member for Gilmore I will fight hard every day to bring greater education and work opportunities to the region. Too many young people move away from the area to find work and that needs to change; we need to keep them here. We also need to make sure local services are up to scratch, which means cutting hospital waiting times, improving neglected infrastructure and investing in our schools and vocational education opportunities.
Click on the name to be taken to the profile. If the name is in black the candidate has not returned the profile.
- Carmel Mary McCallum, Greens
- Grant Schultz, Independent
- Milton Leslight, United Australia Party
- Serah Kolukulapally, Christian Democratic Party
- Katrina Hodgkinson, Nationals
- Warren Mundine, Liberal
What is your political experience?
In 2009 I stepped up to lead the campaign to save Nowra's community pool and we were successful. The new Nowra Aquatic Park was opened in 2015 and it is something I'm incredibly proud of.
What are you doing to address the plight of dairy farmers who say they are not paid enough for their milk?
I have been calling for an increase to the farm-gate milk price for many years and will be pushing for a Shorten Labor Government to do just that.
Do you support the proposal to relocate immigrants to regional centres as a means of relieving pressure on metropolitan infrastructure and increasing the population of and diversity in country towns and cities?
I welcome any new arrivals to Gilmore, it is a welcoming place with people from all over the world. Any increase in population must of course be accompanied by greater investment in services and infrastructure to keep pace.
Do you agree with the idea of decentralising government departments to regional areas, and, if so, which departments would you like to see be relocated to the Gilmore electorate?
I'll always fight for more local jobs. That's why I've fought for 50 new local Centrelink and Medicare jobs for this area.
What will you do over the next four years to ensure more funding for the Princes Highway? Name your priorities for urgent safety improvements on the Princes Highway.
This is an easy one! I've already announced that a Shorten Labor Government will invest $500 million in improving the Princes Highway and will spend three times as much as the Morrison Government over the next four years.
This will allow a Shorten Labor Government to partner with the New South Wales Government to expedite work on projects such as:
. Upgrading the intersection between Jervis Bay Road and the Princes Highway.
. Straightening and upgrading the four kilometre section of the Princes Highway just south of Batemans Bay, known as the "mad mile".
. Duplicating sections between Jervis Bay Road and Sussex Inlet Road.
. Constructing the Moruya Bypass.
. Detailed planning work for the Milton and Ulladulla Bypass and upgrades to the Highway from Burrill Lake to Batemans Bay.
What's your vision for our region and how will you encourage more people to live here?
Encouraging people to live in the local area shouldn't be a difficult task - it is a great place to live full of friendly, welcoming people.
The key is ensuring that jobs are available. That is why I have announced a Shorten Labor Government will deliver 50 new local Department of Human Services jobs as well as world class arts and tourist infrastructure at Bundanon creating new construction and permeant ongoing jobs. On top of this the infrastructure projects we will bring to the region, including the new Nowra Bridge, Batemans Bay Regional Aquatic Arts and Leisure Centre and the Princes Highway upgrades will provide plenty of local jobs.
Do you support renewable energy? If so how do you believe Gilmore is positioned to take advantage of the renewables market?
I do support renewable energy, it is essential in tackling climate change and lowering the cost of energy.
I believe that Gilmore is well positioned to take advantage of this market, that is why a Shorten Labor Government will establish a Community Power Hub in the region. It will help renters and social housing residents benefit from cheaper and cleaner renewable energy by supporting local projects such as solar gardens on rooftops and community wind farms. The benefits of this Hub will be felt far and wide across the local area.
The South-East is seeing a big community push for significant renewable energy investment and opportunities. It is also a region partly dependent on employment opportunities in logging, and struggling with increasing power costs. How do you stand on those issues, or plan to reconcile them?
I'm really clear, Labor must and will invest in renewable energy - to lower prices, but also to create new jobs. We have a huge potential to create new local jobs in the renewable sector.
What policy do you have to reduce power bills?
Labor's 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030 will lower power bills, while also cutting pollution and creating an estimated 70,000 new jobs.
A Shorten Labor Government will also help households and businesses get a better deal on their power prices - overhauling electricity offers available to consumers and scrapping outdated deals so Australians pay less for their power. Labor's plan means households can save up to $165 per year from their energy bill, and the average small business customer can save up to $1,500 per year.
What policy do you have to deal with climate change?
Labor is the only major party that takes climate change seriously.
Labor will cut carbon pollution by 45 per cent by 2030 on 2005 levels through a number of policies, including 50 per cent renewables by 2030, an expanded Safeguards Mechanism to bring down industrial pollution, a National Electric Vehicle Plan and supporting action on the land.
A Shorten Labor Government will help create up to 70,000 new jobs and support more young Australians train in the jobs for the future, with a $75 million Renewables Training Package - including support for 10,000 apprentices in the renewable and clean energy industries. Renewable energy means more jobs, more investment, cheaper energy and lower pollution. Labor's commitment to 50 per cent renewables by 2030 will see up to 70,000 jobs created.
The South-East and Far South Coast would have to be among the most enticing places to live (no bias of course!) but it also one of the most unaffordable according to recent data. What are your plans and party policies surrounding housing affordability - for buyers and renters?
We want to reduce the cost of living. We'll end the Medicare freeze, we're investing in local healthcare services from a new Eurobodalla Hospital, headspace, Radiation Treatment Facility a new Medicare MRI licence. We'll make cancer specialist appointments cheaper, and diagnostic scans and tests free. We want two years of free pre-school education for every three and four year old taught by a qualified early childhood educations, and we'll also make child care cheaper, on average by about $26 a week. We've got bigger, better tax cuts and will deliver a fairer Australia.
Click on the name to be taken to the profile. If the name is in black the candidate has not returned the profile.
- Carmel Mary McCallum, Greens
- Grant Schultz, Independent
- Milton Leslight, United Australia Party
- Serah Kolukulapally, Christian Democratic Party
- Katrina Hodgkinson, Nationals
- Warren Mundine, Liberal