Federal Election 2022: Paterson candidates pitch their plans

Voters will have the choice of seven candidates when they enter the polling booths in a seat that comprises a vast majority of the Port Stephens LGA and extends into the areas of Maitland and Kurri Kurri.

From 2001 Paterson was a Liberal stronghold until a redistribution of boundaries in 2016 saw Labor's Meryl Swanson wrestle the seat from the LNP with a 10 per cent winning margin.

Ms Swanson retained the seat in 2019 but had her margin cut back to 5 per cent despite a relatively quiet campaign from the Liberal candidate, Sachin Joshi.

This election the Liberals have selected a higher profile challenger in Port Stephens solicitor Brooke Vitnell.

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The seat is also being contested by minor parties The Greens, One Nation, United Australia, Informed Medical Options and Liberal Democrats, whose preferences could be crucial in the final count.

The major party candidates have been very busy out on the hustings since well before the election date was announced, engaging in a flurry of funding announcements and appealing with constituents through social and broadcast media, billboards and the more traditional corflute signage.

Both Ms Swanson and Ms Vitnell have faced the indignity of having their signs damaged through vandalism and graffiti and there have been reports of online abuse. At least one other candidate, Ms Ketas, has also had to contend with signage attacks.

There have also been reports of high number pre-poll voter turnout in both Nelson Bay and Raymond Terrace, with many voters the Examiner spoke with saying they were keen to perform their democratic duty away from the spotlight and the expected crowds on election day.

This election voters will be required to vote in both the House of Representatives and Senate.

Polling places open on Saturday at 8am and close 6pm.

Party: The Greens Age: 61 Suburb: Cessnock

The Greens are the only a party who recognise that we need to transition coal workers out of the industry into a new path. A third of the people from Australia's care industry are still unemployed. Our policy is fully costed. We plan to make billionaires pay right now - one in three large corporations pay no tax.

Our other policies include bringing dental and mental health care into Medicare, we want to restore free education for all, affordable housing for everyone, a federal ICAC with teeth [our corruption rating has dropped out of the top 10 in recent years]. I will fight for increased funding for our public hospitals so our health professionals and patients can access the support they need.

We need to clean up politics and the climate crisis is the greatest existential threat to humanity and the planet. We need to not open any new coal or gas projects.

I have moved around quite a bit over the years which has given me a really good understanding of how things work. As a former registered nurse with 30 years' experience working primarily in paediatrics and Neonatal Intensive Care as well as in general practice, I have witnessed at first hand the pressures that our public health system experiences.

Party: Liberal Age: 30 Suburb: Medowie

I am putting my hand up at this election because I will fight harder to ensure our communities are better places to live, raise a family or run a small business.

I will support small businesses with lower taxes and regulation and by lowering unemployment. I stand for better and safer roads and will seek additional funding for roads and infrastructure that keeps pace with the growing needs of our community.

The Liberals will support upgrades and new base stations to mobile phone blackspots including Medowie, Bobs Farm (sandhills) and Fern Bay. I proudly support our defence force personnel and I have advocated for defence projects here and I am pleased the Liberal National government has listened to my advocacy.

I would like to see the Hunter proudly manufacture more here. I have called for the Hunter to receive by decree projects associated with the submarines bought under AUKUS. We have the proud shipbuilding heritage, the skilled workforce - we are well positioned to take advantage of these opportunities.

I support more jobs for our young people, more apprenticeships and traineeships, and we will help more Australians buy their first home by allowing first home buyers to access $50,000 or up to 40% of their super, whichever is less. This scheme is complemented by measures to increase housing supply by incentivising up to 1.3 million empty nesters and pensioners to downsize their homes.

I am fighting for $1.5 million for youth mental health in Port Stephens, dialysis support locally at Tomaree Community Hospital and more beds, more GPs, and provide support for conservation and breeding program for our precious resource the endangered koala and support our local organisations to do their great work.

Local crime and vandalism has been raised with me by many across our community and the federal government can and should play a part. I announced $1 million in crime prevention measures for our local area.

Party: Labor Age: 51 Suburb: Kurri Kurri

With six years in the role, I am the best candidate to be the Member for Paterson. In Opposition, I have worked with the government to deliver for Paterson on the Newcastle Airport upgrade and the M1 extension to bypass the Hexham bottleneck.

I championed the community campaign against the PEP-11 offshore oil and gas drilling, and together we saved our pristine waterways. I won a Labor commitment for $3million for a breeding program at Port Stephens Koala Hospital to save this endangered species.

I have been a thorn in the side of the government on PFAS contamination, and Labor will hold an independent review with Defence, residents, and all stakeholders to explore options including acquisition and rezoning.

I put the issue of GP shortages on the government's agenda, but only Labor will make it easier to see a doctor. Labor will deliver a Medicare licence for the MRI machine at Maitland Hospital. We will provide $1million in the Hunter to help women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Labor will make it easier to buy a home and build more social and affordable housing, we will address skills shortages with free TAFE and more university places and we will tackle the cost of living by creating secure work, especially for casuals and gig workers, cutting childcare costs, and cutting power bills. Our renewable energy policies will create jobs and lower emissions. We will fix aged care and the NDIS and fight for pensioners.

Party: Liberal Democrats Age: 40 Suburb: Weston

A devoted wife and mother, I have lived in the Paterson electorate for almost 30 years. I have immersed myself in the community, volunteering at local op-shops, fundraises and runs classes for Girl Guides, and cook meals for those in need.

As an integral part of my community, I know what is needed to make Port Stephens (and Paterson) a wonderful place to live, raise a family, and run a small business.

Witnessing first-hand the devastating effects of COVID mandates and lockdowns on mental health, physical health, and small businesses, I am fighting for freedom from government interference in personal decisions and medical choices, for better GP access, mental health and paediatric services, and for the accountability of elected politicians.

In Port Stephens I want to address such issues as the Fingal Bay disaster zone, PFAS contamination in Williamtown, and frequent buck-passing of the major parties' road recovery promises.

I seek to end government over-reach, give Aussies their rights back, and bring a common sense back to parliament. This will occur via 10 policies formed by The Liberal Democratic Party, called the Freedom Manifesto, that are specific to this moment in Australian history. View them at www.ldp.org.au/freedom.

Party: Informed Medical Options Age: 52 Suburb: Lemon Tree Passage

I have a background in health and law as a registered nurse and a barrister defending human, environmental and animal rights. For the past 10 years, I have worked for an independent school, supporting it in all aspects of school safety and child protection. She is trained as a child protection investigator. One of my many strengths is risk analysis.

I worked on the Gretley Colliery inquiry, it was here that I gained my foundational skills in risk analysis and risk management. The measures imposed on healthy, law-abiding citizens I believe were grossly disproportionate to the risk of COVID-19, as a result many people have suffered irreparable harm.

The main agenda of my party is to eliminate mandatory health policies, and to provide the Australian people with choice when it comes to their way of living.

Other key policies include: demand government truth and transparency, and disclose all conflicts of interest in all areas; sever any ties between Australia and World Health Organisation; call for a halt of 5G rollout until independent studies and safety levels are assessed on human and animal health, and the environment; and promote local organic food and farming, including an independent environmental impact review of all government-approved pesticides, insecticides and herbicides

My mission is to stop the poisoning of the people and the planet in order to achieve healthy people and a healthy planet.

Party: United Australia Age: 50 Suburb: Rutherford

The past two years has revealed some un-Australian behaviour and neglect by our own government and supposed opposition. Vaccine mandates, job losses, police brutality, power-drunk premiers enforcing mandates that after 95 per cent double jabbed provided no herd immunity, did not stop transmission, infection or hospitalisations.

With a 99.98 per cent survival rate today regardless of age, co-morbidities or vaccine status, the government and opposition are overdue for an inquiry that neither is talking about or challenges the other. The UAP became the largest political party by membership on this one issue alone. People want answers. They want accountability.

Furthermore, the fallout from COVID carnage has led to the highest debt in history, over $1 trillion, which has led to inflation which in turn has triggered the first interest rate rise in 11 years with many more to follow.

Our party will address these issues by: (debt) pay down with a 15% iron ore export licence to raise $22 billion in year one: (housing) cap interest rates at 3% for five years using S51.13 of the constitution to give back power to the government to set rates again during this financial emergency; restore the sanctity of the doctor/patient relationship; (students) cancel HECS debts, provide free university and TAFE, creating great nation building; (coal) stop Net Zero plan to gouge Hunter coal mines to the tune of $500 million a year; (seniors) raise the pension $180 fortnight to protect our most vulnerable against rising costs of living; and introduce a bill of rights to protect all Australians.

Party: One Nation Age: 64 Suburb: Raymond Terrace

The biggest issue in the Paterson electorate is the demand for housing and affordability. If I was to win and hold the balance of power, I would work with all levels of government with the aim of creating low cost housing from apartments through to land and housing developments.

Our current and future economy depends on people having spending power, and not with struggling to afford high mortgage and rental costs. One Nation's national apprenticeship scheme was rolled out by the federal government and warmly welcomed by business.

Our third rollout of the program would be combined with nation building infrastructure projects including water, rail, roads and energy. Despite a $24.8 billion budget for state education services, Australia continues to rank lower than comparable high- and middle-income countries in achieving quality education outcomes.

One Nation will restore critical thinking in the classroom and reinstate the cornerstone of education with reading, writing, arithmetic, and discipline.

We will continue its push for a Royal Commission into the management of the COVID-19 pandemic by Australian governments. We need a mechanism that forensically identifies best practice in future pandemic control and handling.

One Nation would introduce three year contracts for newly qualified medical professionals and in return pay their HECS-HELP loans in full.

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