Thank you to everyone who asked questions at the forum.  Here is the full list of questions.  I hope we have accurately documented the intent of each question and I apologise for any ommisions.

Energy Transition and Nuclear Power:

Mr Farraway, what would a coalition government do if the people in Lithgow/Portland say they do not want a nuclear power station at Portland?

 

Marianne Matthews asked:
What do you see as the role of renewables in energy generation in the next 10 years?

 

Vaughn asked:
After general manager Brad Cams comment on radio about the rush to get renewable energy in our shire being a recipe for disaster. How do you reply to his comments if you heard them?

 

Michael Bourke asked:
the coalition’s nuclear power plan will provide more expensive power
It will not be ready for at least 10 years.
And it relies upon costings that seem deliberately misleading
Why is it such a dud?

 

Janet Duffy asked:
Sam why is the only possible solution nuclear? All the countries you mention are already nuclear.

 

Neville Mattick asked:
How will your election promote renewables and work with NSW Labor to turn the CWO-REZ region into a booming new economic era by giving our farms the ability to be exporters of food fibre and energy?

 

Fiona Luckhurst asked:
Kate Hook, Having received $250,000 from Climate 200, an anti-coal, pro renewable group, how will you support Calare with direct impacts from the Renewable Energy Zone. Water, roads, Drs, waste etc

 

Angela asked:
Hi Andrew- I didn’t hear you mention the Coalition’s nuclear plan. It locks us to greater emissions and impacts. Since no investor would touch it taxpayers would fund it, so what’s your position? Thx

 

Jorie Ryan:
Sam, what details are available regarding the nuclear energy policy?

 

Anne Holden asked:
How can the Coalition justify the statement that Nuclear energy is cheaper in short and longer term considering the cost of keeping coal fired power stations open for longer and also the cost of water

 

Peter asked:
If any candidates have not made their stance clear, could you please clarify: Do you support nuclear energy, including a reactor in Lithgow?

 

What is your position on the R.E.2. what will you do to assist rural communities with the massive shortfall of infrastructure funding, eg camps for eg construction workers ?

 

Ross Mayberry asked:
REZ: 1) What would you do to improve our already struggling infrastructure - the healthcare system etc 2) Can you guarantee the developer be responsible for the cost of removal of expired panels etc

 

Barry Hadaway regarding nuclear for Sam, asked:
The CSIRO GenCost Report indicates nuclear power is twice as expensive as renewable energy. This estimates doesn't include decommissioning and waste storage costs. If these costs are included nuclear

 

What is your opinion on climate change and its effects on the people in the Mudgee area? What actions do you support to alleviate these impacts on the Australian people?

 

Lou asked:
This LGA we are being inundated with renewable projects without consultation with the local council
1. Huge nos. of workers and no appropriate accommodation
2 After 10 yrs who will remove the panels

 

Is anyone concerned for the good farming land that’s is being destroyed by solar and wind farms? What rehabilitation plans are in place for farming and environmentally sensitive areas?

 

Why not put solar panels on all public buildings instead of covering our farmland and environmentally sensitive bush land with so called renewables?

 

Peter asked:
For Mr farraway, given renewable energy is our cheapest form of energy, slowing the roll out of renewables must surely increase power costs. How do you respond to this?

 

Medical Workforce:

Could all candidates individually explain what they believe is a possible solution to the doctor shortage in rural area for now and over the next decade? What delivery system for doctors attending  may work when there's simply no doctor available on the ground for many miles? (please exclude Telehealth)

 

If you were to create more access to healthcare, by bringing more doctors to our region, how will you then keep those families here? What’s the incentive for the rest of the family moving with the GP?

 

Peter Lindfield asked:
Our local doctors surgeries have closed their doors to new people what happens to people who need a family doctor or emergency appointment?

 

How will you ACTUALLY improve the lack of access to healthcare, particularly in the mid-western region?

 

Peter Windeyer asked:
There’s a doctor shortage in rural Australia. What are you doing about it? For Andrew Gee

 

Bill asked:
To Sam: do you realise that GP’s in Australia are structured as a small business? There are no GP’s employed as such in the public service?

 

If you are to improve access to healthcare by more GP’s to our region, how do you plan on keeping them here? Easy for the GP to stay, what about their families, who are bored and want to leave?

 

Gaye commented:
There is already a scheme for HECS being reduced for rural doctors!

Infrastructure and roads:

Rod Watson asked:
If the Great Divide has existed and still exists the question for Andrew Gee is “why, if you have been in government roles since 2011, does it still exist.” For others - what three things would you champion to reduce the divide

 

Loretta asked:
How do you propose to secure and implement the infrastructure ie Highway upgrade through mountains that is promised at each election?

 

What are your actual plans to improve infrastructure in Calare? How will these be implemented to get results?

 

Neville Mattick asked,
To Sam, a road across the Blue Mountains is an essential need for Calare, so, why did the Abbott, Turnbull, Morrison Government cripple the original NBN to confirm and maintain the digital divide?

 

AUKUS:

Bruce Wilson asked:
To each candidate. Where do you stand on withdrawing from our commitment to AUKUS?

 

Derek Finter:
If elected would you advocate to withdraw from the AUKUS disaster area.

 

Bernard Frank asked:
What is your position on the AUKUS deal now that Trump is president

 

Margot Stephens asked:
How do you see the future of AUKUS

 

Governing, integrity, accountability

Nate asked:
If elected, will you provide supply and confidence a Liberal/National minority government? This is a question for Kate, Andrew and Ben.

 

Peter asked:
I understand that previous hung parliaments have been effective and productive.  Could our independent candidates kindly outline the advantages of a hung parliament?  What role would you see yourself playing in such a parliament?

 

Loretta asked:
Why do we see no one or few elected representatives sitting in parliament often when an elected representative is making a speech? Shouldn’t all elected representatives be in attendance?

 

Would you support legislation that requires MPs to act with in the interests of their community AND of future generations?

 

Angela asked:
What do you believe needs to happen to strengthen the democratic nature of our government and parliament at the federal level?

 

Mark Leary asked:
For the independent candidates, in the likely event of a hung parliament, which of the 2 major parties will you form a minority government with.

 

General Questions:

Derek Finter asked:
If elected would you move to implement all the recommendations of the enquiry into gambling advertising?

 

48% of federal government revenue is from personal income tax. Where do you stand in increasing corporate taxes and mining royalties?

 

Heather Drew asked:
Australia is one of the very few democracies that doesn't have a human rights act. Would you support a human rights act to protect our rights to education, housing, health care, safe aged care etc?

 

Greg asked:
We have seen attacks on the Transgender community in the USA. What will you do to support the Transgender and diverse communities in Australia?

 

David Allworth asked:
What steps are you proposing to make housing affordable for someone on full time minimum wage?

 

What does Mudgee mean to you?

 

Australia has the most secret democracy in the world, how can you improve government transparency and make the NACC more open and credible?

 

Robyn Brett
I would like to hear every party’s view on abortion and particularly on abortion up to birth.

 

Nick Croom asked:
To Kate Hook - what independence do you maintain despite taking funding from climate 200? What influence do that have over your voting in parliament on positions that may go against climate 200 wishes

 

Nick Croom asked:
To Sam: Australia’s population has grown by over 7.5% through immigration alone since the beginning of 2022. What is your stance on the obvious impacts of immigration on cost of living and housing.

 

Peter Windeyer asked:
Andrew Gee. Can you expand on how you are supporting the veterans

 

There are only 2 shires in Calare with no rail - Oberon (2 m. tonnes freight) - Mudgee (strategic link west to Newcastle). How can this be addressed?

 

James Meares asked:
What are your three most important values - and what is one thing that you have you done in your life to demonstrate that we can trust that you uphold these values?

 

James Meares asked:
Live stream has just dropped out. 3:23

Thanks James.  We apologise for this and we were aware.  I understand that Daniel our video man had a problem with his internet connection.  You can now view what you have missed on the link.  Again, very sorry.  Peter.

 

Neville Mattick:
Stream outage probably confirms my thought that we needed a proper NBN, done once in Optical Fibre Cable for everyone, as a Human Right.

 

Margot Stephens asked:
How will you vote for or against AUKUS? Climate action, what action to you support? How will you support wage growth? How do you propose supporting Environmental Protection?

 

Jane Munro asked:
Does any candidate support the Prime Minister’s planned review into gender-affirming care of children suffering from gender confusion, and, would any support a formal inquiry?

 

M Martin asked:
To Labor candidate: how will you ensure Labor will not give in to Dutton/coalition on key promises , especially re the environment and social justice and acknowledge of country etc

 

Nick Croom asked:
Do you support sending Australian troops to Ukraine? Can you offer an opinion why someone might disagree with your view?

 

Steve asked, presumably to Andrew Gee:
Why didn’t the National Party, which you are a part of when you were in power in both the state and Federal level, do something about a better road connection to Sydney instead of blaming others?

 

Dr. Hal Rikard-Bell asked:
20 to 40 year old Australians are choosing to not have more than 1.6 children per couple, as their decision to not have a big Australia. When are our leaders going to move to a low population policy?

 

Barry Hadaway asked:
Andrew: Given Climate 200 is a crowd funding website, not a party, not an industry lobby group, why the dishonest scare campaign?

 

Garry Connelly asked:
Andrew Gee. There has been so much media and misinformation etc regarding your departure from the National Party. Can you please clear the air on this issue?

 

Do you have any plans to include Frontier wars in the war memorials of the electorate?

 

How will you ensure you effectively represent the interests of your electorate in Canberra?

 

Aussie punter asked:
How do you plan to protect our beautiful natural environment and national parks from large corporations (mining) who wish to take advantage of it?

 

Bev asked
What policies would help young people who are disengaging from school, our first nations young people who struggle even more, & reducing incarceration & recidivism rates for young people?

 

Record levels of immigration in our cities under Labour has had a significant impact on the housing market that effects the regions too. How will the independent and national candidates address this?

 

Peter Windeyer asked:
Andrew Gee. How are you fixing the high fuel prices in Mudgee?

 

Bob McKkittrick asked
To Kate Hook Your donation list shows that so far you have received a quarter of a million dollars from Climate 200 and associates. I'm struggling to accept "Independant"?

 

Samantha smith asked:
Andrew - you mentioned that you delivered the Gulgong Hospital, but this was during your time as a National - since leaving the Nationals what have you delivered for the Mid-Western community?

 

If public servants work so hard why is it so slow when dealing with government departments?