With the first sitting of Parliament just over a week away, the time has come to lay out an action plan.
While issues like job creation, climate change and tax reforms will no doubt be constant themes throughout the year, the following issues will be placed highest on my list of priorities.
Immigration and sustainable population reforms:
With Australia’s cities, roads, hospitals, schools, water resources and electricity supply stretched to breaking point, why is One Nation the only party focusing on a clear, sustainable population policy?
A zero net immigration programme aimed at stabilising Australia’s population should be immediately adopted by the Australian Government to alleviate pressure on our struggling public sector and to relieve the pressure the current levels of immigration are having on the housing market and the availability of jobs.
More also needs to be done to make sure migrants are properly vetted and willing to integrate into the Australian way of life.
Lowering Energy prices with a “use it or lose it” offshore gas reserve policy:
The Australian Government continues to permit a treasure trove of offshore gas to be taken by a small number of foreign-owned multinational companies. These companies pay little or nothing for our gas, pay no income tax on the profits made on the exports and provide an inadequate supply of gas to Australians.
We must pursue tax reforms that force these mega corporations to pay their fair share and a ‘use it or lose it’ policy on all gas reserve retention leases granted.
It’s a fact that the Federal Government has granted 31 retention licences for offshore areas which contain more gas than we’d know what to do with.
None of these licenses have gone to production phase, with some multinational companies having sat on these reserves for the past 30 years.
This is driving up gas and electricity prices and forcing the expansion of onshore gas exploration by government, which is more expensive and a threat to the future of our prime agricultural land.
Banking Royal Commission & Review of the Family Law Act:
While we welcome the Royal Commission into the finance sector, I have fears that it might fail to get to the heart of the issues that have caused Australian families so much pain.
It needs to address the problem of liquidators charging ridiculously high fees, with the backing of their employers the banks.
My office has been working overtime to provide assistance to people negatively affected by malpractices like this and has already managed to save the livelihood of some farming families and in some cases prevented suicides.
I have similar concerns when it comes to the review of the Family Law Act. Unless the issues of domestic violence orders, child support, parental equality, the lack of judges and limited court time are taken into account then the core problems will not have been addressed.
We will closely monitor these investigations and we will do everything we can to make sure a fair and balance result is achieved so that the public’s confidence in the banks and the family law courts can be restored.
Cracking down on waste and fraud in government funded programs:
Australians are facing an epidemic of dishonest operators who are being allowed to rort the system.
They are ripping off taxpayers by providing inadequate services and taking advantage of vulnerable Aussies who need a helping hand.
This is occurring in communities across Australia, in industries from childcare to registered training organisations. Sadly it seems Australians in remote communities are the most at risk of being taken advantage of by these dodgy operators and it is time people stop turning a blind eye.
Waste and fraud is also rife throughout government run organisations and welfare services. We have seen obscene amounts of waste associated with the NBN and the NDIS and this has to stop.
Taxpayer dollars should help those most in need, not those with the most greed.
National security initiatives to combat crime, terrorism and radicalisation:
More must be done to create strict laws and regulations that protect our national security and reduce the risk of terrorism and radicalisation.
Migrants who choose to engage in antisocial, criminal behaviours should not be granted Australian citizenship and should face harsher penalties such as deportation. I also believe that under certain circumstances families of those who have committed extreme offences should also face the threat of deportation.
It’s high time parents start taking more responsibility for the actions of their children.
Water Security and the protection of prime agricultural land and our ocean resources:
This is an issue that is of particular interest to Queensland. I want to see a focus on ensuring water security for prime agricultural land by investing more in infrastructure like dams.
It’s disgraceful that we have a system now that incentivises multinational corporations to trade water for profit, with no regard for what is best for the long term future of Australia’s regional farming communities.
Attempts to sell off Australia’s land and ocean based natural resources to foreign countries and corporations will also be strongly opposed.
For instance, any attempts to allow foreign controlled fishing vessels into Australian waters, whether through changes to legislation or other means, will never receive my support.
Allowing foreign controlled fishing vessels into Australian waters is not only a national security risk but it will only further erode Australia’s fishing industry while endangering and depleting our ocean resources.
