Priorities

This is what
I stand for.

I’m running as an independent for Bradfield because like most people in the electorate, I want to see real action on the issues that matter most: climate change, the economy, integrity in federal politics and caring policies that make us proud to be Australian.

01 Let’s take climate action to give our kids a better future.

This next decade will determine Australia’s future well into the century. It is momentous for our climate, and also for the opportunities that come with re-orienting our economy for the 21st Century.

We could be creating jobs and new Australian industries in sustainable food systems, forestry and renewable, decentralised and coordinated energy systems.

We could be properly addressing the consequences of climate change. And we could stop subsidising industries such as fossil fuels, that have only a limited place in our energy future.

And, let’s face it, those coulds are really shoulds. We can no longer afford 19th century thinking in a 21st century economy.

02 Let’s make responsible, forward-thinking economic decisions.

Economic decisions require 21st century solutions to the challenges we face right now.

Australia needs an effective government with policies that support job growth and protect consumers. Policies that incentivise the businesses that will ensure we have a strong economy, sustainable energy sector and environment.

An effective government requires people with experience. There is, quite simply, a lack of experience in our federal parliament. By which I mean, the people who make the economic decisions are not the people who experience their impact. There are far too many career politicians making decisions about issues for which they have no real lived experience.

As a result, our leaders are not up to the task of governing. We have seen this demonstrated time and time again, whether it’s bushfires, climate change, operating effectively in a complex international environment or dealing with a pandemic. (A pandemic which we have long known was inevitable and yet has taken our leadership at all levels by complete surprise. For two years.)

We all know the 21st century presents us with challenges. We need to stop applying the old band-aids and start embracing the opportunities the future presents.

Vote like your future depends on it – because it does!

03 Let’s restore integrity to politics.

Democracies are in danger of self-inflicted harm all over the world. Australia is not immune. 2021 showed us, like no other time in our history, that we need to take robust measures to restore integrity to politics. So that we can once again be proud of how Australia is governed.

Our federal parliament should be a destination our children aspire to reach. Parliamentarians should be role models.

We need more than a federal ICAC. We need genuinely non-political criteria for positions the federal government appoints, such as the Australian Broadcasting Commission, Australia Post, the Australian Human Rights Commission, and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

And we need to use modern technology to enhance participation in our democracy, for example real-time reporting of political donations.

04 Let’s look after each other. It’s what Australians do.

Fairness isn’t an optional value for Australians. It’s who we are. But we’ve been drifting away from the fair society we expect. Women don’t feel safe. Underprivileged communities don’t feel supported. We’re leaving people behind when we should all be moving forward together.

Nicolette’s Positions
on some key issues

Aged Care

The government’s response to the aged care royal commission has been woefully inadequate. Seniors deserve high quality care and the sector needs more funding to achieve this.

Arts

193,600 directly and over 5 million workers more broadly are employed in the arts and culture industries. As at June 2020, the arts contributed $14.7b to Australia’s GDP.

Arts, and the institutions that support the arts, require government support. The current level is insufficient, and it tends to favour certain types of arts (i.e Australian Opera) over others (i.e. community drama clubs). I support a more systematic look at the role of the arts in Australian society and government funding to secure medium and longer term support for this critical industry.

I support that the government reinstate an adequate level of Australian content and Children’s content to all free to air and streaming services in Australia.

ABC

I recognise that the ABC plays an essential non-partisan role to our democracy and is profoundly important to the Bradfield electorate and are in the national interest. This is why I support appropriately funding the ABC, and ensuring genuinely non-political criteria for all positions that the federal government uses to appoint people to its board.

Carbon Price

I support a carbon price (e.g. a market-based mechanism such as emissions trading scheme) not a carbon tax. That way, businesses bear the cost, the markets adjust and taxpayers aren’t left with the bill.

Gambling Reform

I share the concerns of experts about the impact of gambling and the role of vested interests in promoting it. Gambling advertising, new technologies that make gambling easier, and COVID lockdowns have all exacerbated a longstanding problem. I am particularly aware of the impact of exposure to gambling advertising in early life on one’s chances of becoming a problem gambler in later life and I support moves to control and regulate advertising, especially to children. I strongly support banning the use of credit cards to participate in online gaming; this would bring consistency to existing laws that ban the use of credit cards for purchasing lottery tickets from news agencies.

Housing Affordability

Housing affordability is a major social, economic and ethical issue. Some people may be surprised that it is an issue in Bradfield: 49.6% of renters and 41.6% of mortgagees are under stress in the Bradfield electorate. There is no quick fix, but we need an adequate stock of quality social housing and a holistic view of tax reform. Throughout my campaign, I have been in contact with the heads of many relevant NFPs in the areas of housing and homelessness.

LGBTQI+ Issues

I am a strong advocate in respect of people’s human rights. And I understand that the government also has a role to protect people’s human rights. Accordingly, I utterly reject the use of LGBTQI+ people as tools in political game-playing. The public shouldn’t be debating people’s right to determine their own personal identity.

Live animal export trade

The live animal export industry has systematically proven that it cannot humanely transport live animals and so its license should be cancelled.

I support a move away from the live export trade in a way that supports farmers. Farmers who supply the live export trade are involved only up to the point at which they sell their sheep or cattle to livestock brokers and they have no responsibility or oversight after that. Farmers’ reputations have been unfairly caught up in a system for which they have no overarching responsibility.

So my position is that we need a careful transition to a system where sheep and cattle are processed onshore, one that focuses on the export of the growing area of chilled and boxed meat.

NDIS

As an advocate for respecting human rights, I support the self-determination of people living with disability and strongly support their full participation in the design, administration and continual review of the NDIS such that it meets the needs of its key stakeholders and can be delivered as efficiently as possible on behalf of the taxpayer. More direct input from participants, and local groups working in concert with local governments and service providers would likely net superior results for the administration of the NDIS.

NDIS and people over 65

Under the current National Disability Insurance Scheme, those who acquire their injuries after the age of 65 are not eligible for support and instead need to go through the aged care system. Aged care has been systematically underfunded and it’s not set up for disability-specific issues. Even though the disability commissioner of the day agreed at the time with limiting the age for NDIS eligibility to 65 years, this may no longer be relevant due to the underfunding of the aged care system revealed in the Royal Commission and the fact that it’s not set up for disability specific issues.

Net zero targets

I support a national emissions reduction target of at least 75% by 2035 (on a 2005 baseline). But since scientists suggest that we should have been at zero emissions decades ago, I do not rule out a greater reduction target should it be recommended by Australia’s and international climate experts. This is also a matter of our international competitiveness. Without bold targets we won’t be able to compete on the global market.

Nuclear Power

Current nuclear power technology can’t compete with renewables on cost, speed or safety.

I acknowledge that the climate crisis is existential, and I am open to learning more about new forms of nuclear energy that may, in time be safer, cheaper and acceptable for use – but until then, and because there are so many solutions available now, that will create jobs and support our economy, renewable energy is the option I am committed to supporting.

Population

Population growth is a complex question. Some Australians feel that Australia is already at capacity, and yet addressing Australia’s labour force and skills crisis cannot be met solely by re-investment in our TAFE and university education systems. The Australian economy has always benefited from migration, and COVID has put a short-term stop to skilled migration. My focus is on ensuring that cities remain liveable, and our regions economically and socially viable, through investment in sustainability measures and by drawing on expertise in circularity and creative urban design.

Refugees and Asylum Seekers

We need to return fairness and care to the policies and programs of government. The way we treat people seeking asylum and refuge in Australia is a measure of who we say we are. Further, our country has benefited greatly from the talents and hard work of refugees who have come to Australia, and from immigration more broadly. Australians look after each other; it’s what we do.

My position is that in no circumstances should children be incarcerated and that any solution that involves the indefinite detention of people is not a solution.

Australia needs a plan that ensures there is fair, safe and timely passage for people seeking refuge in Australia.

Tax

How the government raises and spends money needs to be reviewed to ensure a society and economy that is fairer, more sustainable and productive. I support a comprehensive review of taxes rather than taking a piecemeal review of individual taxes here or there. For that reason, I don’t have pre-established views on any single tax.

Uluru Statement from the Heart

I support the aims of the Uluru Statement and the call to embed a secure Indigenous voice in our political system.

Via an indigenous led process which commenced formally in 2016, the Uluru Statement from the Heart has provided recommendations for how First Nations peoples can finally have a say on the policies and laws that affect their communities. This involves constitutional recognition, A Voice to Parliament and the Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making and truth-telling of our common history.

As a first step, I accept the invitation to walk forward together with First Nations peoples, and to support a First Nations Voice to Parliament. I will be voting yes at the up-coming referendum.

Voluntary Assisted Dying

While assisted dying is a matter for the states, should it come up at a Commonwealth level I believe a conscience vote should be the approach. My personal position is that people should have the right to seek assisted death in the circumstances debated and accepted by the NSW Legislative Assembly in 2021, with careful safeguards.