Policy Priorities

Across all levels of government, poor economic management has not been isolated to any particular political party. Federally, debt has grown in dollar terms under the current Labor government and the previous Liberal government. In Victoria, government debt sits at approximately $165 billion and interest costs will approach 10% of operating revenue by the end of the decade.

Click here to read my full economic management policy.

Despite this, as we approach the election, both major parties have made spending commitments totalling billions of dollars. It is evident that both major parties are more concerned with buying votes than responsibly managing Victoria’s finances. 

Victoria’s Auditor General has repeatedly criticised a lack of long-term economic planning and clear, trackable targets regarding debt-related metrics. As an Independent, I will hold whichever party forms government accountable for their spending decisions and the budgets they produce through a set of sensible fiscal rules that are paramount to responsible economic management.

The fiscal rules I will hold government accountable on are: 

1. Urgent fiscal review
2. 10-year budget projections
3. Maintain a structural operating surplus
4. Stabilise then reduce net debt to GSP
5. Cap interest expenses as a share of operating revenue
6. Borrow only for productivity-enhancing capital
7. Require Infrastructure Victoria to assess business cases for all major projects

Click here to read my full economic management policy.

Whilst Victoria has exceeded its recent emissions reduction targets, the overall approach to climate action lacks the urgency of what is required to address the climate emergency.

Click here to read my full climate and energy policy.

We must also acknowledge that the impacts of global warming are already here and unavoidable. Thus, a responsible government should implement specific policies on climate resilience and adaptation while simultaneously taking an ambitious approach to emissions reduction, from households to transport.

Climate policies must seek to reduce emissions and transition to Net Zero and 100% renewable electricity grid as soon as possible. The shutdown of coal-fired power stations is fast approaching, and it is imperative that our grid and storage capacity are ready for the switch. There should be no new fossil fuel projects in Victoria, including gas import facilities, to ensure we can meet our emissions reduction targets.

My policy has a strong focus on incentives to help our community electrify both as a cost of living measure and as a way to rapidly reduce our reliance on gas. By making it easier and cost-effective for our community to install behind-the-meter energy systems and to improve home energy efficiency, we will reduce the overall strain on our grid, making the transition away from fossil fuels much simpler.

My priorities on climate and energy include:

1. Subsidies for low to middle-income households
2. Rapidly reduce our reliance on gas
3. Unlock commercial rooftop solar
4. Prepare for the renewable energy transition
5. Rapid electrification of transport
6. Set new targets & mandate transparent reporting
7. Prepare for the impacts of global warming

Click here to read my full climate and energy policy.

Victoria’s environmental landscape is declining; our government has continued to use environmental conservation as a political talking point, avoiding tangible action towards conservation practices. Funding continues to be cut, jeopardising our national parks and biodiversity. 

Click here to read my full environmental protection policy.

Native logging has continued in Victoria, despite $1.5 billion in transition funding, thanks to loopholes that the Government refuses to close and the Liberal/Nationals are planning to restart the industry.

Without independents in Parliament to hold the major parties to account, and without independent regulators to hold departments to account, Victoria’s environment will continue to be neglected. My policies will protect our parks, our wildlife, our rivers and our native forests, and increase our tree canopy targets too.

My priorities on environmental protection include:

1. Protect Native Forests
2. Significantly increase funding for national parks
3. Protect Tree Canopy
4. End Duck Hunting
   
5. Protect our local nature

Click here to read my full environmental protection policy.

Victoria clearly needs more homes, but the current system isn’t working properly. Across Melbourne, more than 120,000 dwellings have been approved since late 2023 but not built. You can’t fix the housing crisis without addressing that problem.

My focus is on three priorities:

1. Get approved homes built

There are tens of thousands of approved dwellings sitting idle. I will support reforms that remove barriers to construction, provide planning certainty and reduce unnecessary cost pressures so viable projects can proceed.

    2. Plan growth properly

We need more housing, but it must be well planned. That means better design standards, heritage protection and restoring a meaningful role for councils so development reflects local communities and capacity.

    3. Deliver more affordable housing

We need stronger inclusionary zoning targets so new developments include affordable homes. State levers should be used to encourage delivery, and where governments are not building enough social housing, they must partner with the sector and create incentives to close the gap.

Cost-of-living relief should focus on the real pressures households face - energy, housing and transport.

I support practical measures that reduce everyday costs, including energy efficiency, electrification and smarter infrastructure investment.

Crime and policing in the state of Victoria is at a tipping point, with our current police force sitting 1,500 active-duty police below our optimal operational number, leaving our communities vulnerable.

Click here to read my full community safety policy.

My policy supports practical measures to get more police officers on our streets immediately.

My policy also has a clear focus on prevention. Whilst it is important that offenders and offenders breaching bail face the appropriate consequences, intervention programs that prevent re-offending are self-evidently beneficial to the whole community.

My priorities on community safety include: 

1. More police on our streets

2. Faster response times

3. An expert review of Victoria’s bail laws

4. Reduce youth reoffending by expanding intervention programs

5. More drug & alcohol treatment services to reduce offending 

Click here to read my full community safety policy.

Treaty puts decisions in the hands of the people who know their communities best, enabling true representation and systemic equality.

Click here to read my full Reconciliation and Treaty policy.

Treaty is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to recognise First Peoples and reset the relationship between government and community. I support Treaty in Victoria.

Kew sits on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country, beside the Birrarung. During my term as Mayor of Boroondara, council opened the year with a Welcome to Country for the first time, and became one of only two councils to take part in the Municipal Association of Victoria’s Treaty pilot. I also sit on council’s Reconciliation Advisory Committee. That work has taught me that reconciliation moves forward when people take the time to listen and build real relationships.

Victoria is leading the country on Treaty. It gives First Peoples a direct voice in the decisions that affect their lives, their communities and their Country. Leading means seeing it through. I will stand up for Treaty in Parliament and oppose any attempt to repeal the Statewide Treaty.

Reconciliation must move beyond words. Acknowledgements and good intentions matter, but they are not enough on their own. Real reconciliation needs action, accountability and long-term commitment: promises with timelines, and progress the public can see. Accountability has been at the centre of my public life, and I will bring the same standard here.

My priorities on Reconciliation and Treaty include:

1. Deliver on Closing the Gap
2. Build First Peoples’ economic participation
3. Support education, language and culture
4. Protect and fund Treaty’s institutions
5. Truth-telling, fairness and Country
   

Click here to read my full Reconciliation and Treaty policy.

• Investigate the feasibility of more accessible tram stops within the electorate of Kew

• Build the Hawthorn to Box Hill trail

• Replace the Willsmere Roundabout with a signalised intersection

• A shuttle bus to connect residents in Balwyn North to the Bulleen Hub, to ‘replace’ the Bulleen Road bus stop
  
  
• Promote greater use of public transport by identifying and then reducing gaps in current service levels 
  
  
• Investigate opportunities for fare reduction during a review of Victoria’s budget, including making the current half-price fare permanent
  
  
• Dedicate 5% of the transport budget towards strategic cycling corridors
  
  
• Ensure Victorian roads are reliably maintained, with a delivery plan and timeline for repairing the excessive backlog of neglected potholes
  
  
• Commence a feasibility study for the electrification of V/Line trains
  
  
• Develop a plan to shift freight transport from road to rail
  
  
• A statewide EV charging network strategy, including EV chargers at workplaces, on-street charging, park-and-ride car parks, and shopping centres, and charging solutions for electric trucks along major freight routes.