"We all know, deep in our hearts, that something is wrong with Australia," United Australia Party candidate Milton Leslight said at the candidates breakfast in Nowra on Wednesday, May 1.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The breakfast was held at the Nowra Golf Club, and was hosted by the Shoalhaven Business Chamber.
Six candidates spoke to a packed room. The flavour of the conversation was high on ideology and low on detail.
Mr Leslight went on to say that Australia, the nation, should be run as a business, by business people "not well-intentioned solicitors or bureaucrats".
Greens candidate Carmel McCallum spoke about the need for renewable energy and environment protections.
Independent Grant Schultz said major parties needed to step up, and said he could "change the game".
Labor candidate Fiona Phillips emphasised that she was a local, a fighter, and defended Labor's economic policy.
Liberal candidate Warren Mundine spoke about his connections to government: "I have been adviser to five Prime Ministers, worked with the federal government for 20 years."
Nationals candidate Katrina Hodgkinson also said she would fight for her community.
One point of agreement amongst the candidate was the need for a west Nowra bypass, and a dual-divided carriageway for the Princes Highway from Nowra to the Victorian border.
Questions from the audience focused on tax, roads, negative gearing, and the inexperience of candidates - after Ms Sudmalis' retirement, there is no returning member for Gilmore.
After Labor announced $35 million in funds for the Shoalhaven District Hospital, including a stand-alone mental health unit, a member of the audience asked Mr Mundine what his position was on the issue.
Mr Mundine said he personally supported funding mental health.
"We need to pour more resources into this area, and work with the experts," he said.
