Major party pledges for Hume ahead of tomorrow's poll

Hume candidates have made plenty of promises to secure the number one spot on your ballot paper at this Federal Election.

Region Media has taken a look at the pledges from the major parties specifically for the electorate and pulled them together here.

Liberals: Angus Taylor

Angus Taylor is the incumbent for Hume. He was first elected to the position in 2013, and kept his seat during both the 2016 and 2019 Federal elections.

He is also the Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction.

Mr Taylor said he’s proud of what he’s accomplished for Hume and wants to build on those achievements.

“I want to continue to make our community an even better place to live, work and raise a family,” he said.

“I want to continue to deliver on my plan for more local jobs, delivering important local infrastructure and guaranteeing the essential services we rely on.”

He’s flagged infrastructure, cost of living, health and national security as key issues.

Throughout the Federal Election campaign, the Liberal Party has pledged:

• $95 million for the Picton Bypass and upgrades to Picton Road
• $78 million to develop a final business case to extend the Sydney Metro from Western Sydney Airport to Glenfield via Leppington
• $30 million for Boral in the Southern Highlands to help lower emissions in the cement industry
• A further $6 million for upgrades to Silverdale Road
• More than $4 million to build a headspace centre at Narellan
• $400,000 for clean-up and restoration activities on the Hawkesbury-Nepean River
• $147,418 to support food and beverage businesses in Hume lower their energy costs
• $67,480 for an IT upgrade at Upper Lachlan’s Emergency Centre in Crookwell
• $58,000 to upgrade the fixed wireless service at Canyonleigh
• $26,000 to upgrade the fixed wireless network at Bullio
• An MRI licence for Goulburn Base Hospital
• A four-year extension of funding for Goulburn’s Country Universities Centre

Labor: Greg Baines

Gunning high school teacher Greg Baines is running for Hume as he’s worried about the future of the electorate.

“There’s been an erosion of the political system, it’s becoming less transparent and we need more people who care,” Mr Baines said.

“I feel the Hume has been neglected, we’ve had the Liberals in for the past nine years and don’t have much to show for it. I think we can do better.

“If you’ve voted Liberal all your life, this is your chance to make a change, otherwise we’ll have another three years of inaction.”

He’s flagged aged care, health services, roads, education, the environment and a National Integrity Commission as key issues.

Throughout the Federal Election campaign, Labor has pledged:

• $500,000 for disaster readiness in Camden and Wollondilly
• $250,000 for the restoration of the Sts Peter and Paul’s Old Cathedral in Goulburn
• Community Battery Plan to allow homes with rooftop solar feed power into a communal battery

Greens: Karen Stewart

Originally from Sydney and now living in Camden, Karen Stewart said she was “acutely aware” of the challenges facing the community.

“[These include] housing affordability and the climate crisis impacts like flooding and fires,” she said.

“I am determined to amplify the voices of my community to ensure action is taken to address these vital issues.”

Her profile on the Greens website said her experience as a volunteer with local not-for-profits allowed her to see how government policy “shortcomings” impact communities.

“Families benefit from affordable childcare, a strong parental leave scheme, and flexible working arrangements that offer women the opportunity for realistic workforce participation with a reasonable earning capacity,” she said.

“Free tertiary education would provide security for parents and students in knowing there are a wealth of opportunities available for the future. It also allows mature aged people to reskill to ensure employment in an ever-changing work environment.

“I am dedicated to addressing these funding issues and policy changes that can clearly alleviate financial pressures in our households.”

She flagged climate change, accountability, affordable housing, public health and public education as key issues.

Shooters Fishers and Farmers: Ross Seller

Mr Seller is a solicitor who lives with his wife on a farm in the Southern Highlands, and has a background of lobbying governments for legislative changes at state and federal levels. He is also a member of the RFS.

He said the Shooter Fishers and Farmers Party was a strong, safe alternative to Liberal and Labor.

“We are not a party held hostage to extremes like the Liberal or Labor parties, nor trapped by a system in supporting the unsupportable,” Mr Seller said.

“A vote for Liberal is a waste, they are impotent. The tightly caucused Labor Party is no better. All the other candidates are variously lacking.”

The Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party has pledged to:

• reduce the cost of housing and increase the supply of new land
• address climate change with a policy “based upon rational scepticism”
• improve health and aged care services in regional areas and attract new doctors to the regions
• improve education in regional areas and create policies to attract new teachers to the regions
• maintain economic stability and a high credit rating
• clean air, water and diverse and healthy aquatic and terrestrial systems
• better roads, hospitals, transport and communications infrastructure

Minor candidates

There are also several minor candidates vying for the seat of Hume:

• Garry Dollin – United Australia Party
• Rebecca Thompson – One Nation
• Penny Ackery – Independent
• Sheneli Meneripitiyage Dona – Independent
• Jaoquim De Lima – Liberal Democrats

As of 20 May, 8513 postal votes had been received and 31,669 pre-poll votes cast for the seat of Hume.