Nominations for candidates in the state election have closed, and the vote is now just weeks away.
To help voters decide, Sunshine Coast News has asked all 45 candidates across the eight Sunshine Coast electorates to share no more than 100 words on: What are your top three priorities for the Sunshine Coast community?
All candidates below are as they will appear on the ballot paper. Early voting opens today, ahead of the election day on October 26.
Keep reading Sunshine Coast News in the coming days as we present parts two and three of our Q&A with candidates.
BUDERIM – Buderim, Sippy Downs, Palmview, Mountain Creek and surrounds
Brent Mickelberg, LNP (incumbent): Community safety is my top priority. The LNP will toughen laws and put more police boots on the ground, to ensure local families feel safe in their homes and communities. Another priority for me is upgrading the Sugar Road and Mooloolaba Road intersection which I recently committed $15 million to complete, if the LNP is elected. Labor cut funding to this project, despite it being identified as needing urgent upgrades. I want to ensure our community has easier access to healthcare. We’ll be putting clinicians back in charge of our hospitals, to cut down wait lists and ambulance ramping.
Shaun Sandow, Legalise Cannabis Queensland
Ryan Beall, One Nation: Labor’s cost-of-living crisis is hurting families and small businesses and my top priority is to implement policies that address the causes: net-zero energy policies driving up our power bills, and unsustainable immigration and uncontrolled government spending driving inflation. We must tackle youth crime. One Nation’s policy puts community first safety first: tougher penalties tempered with proven youth intervention programs, judicial accountability and parental responsibility. Rapid population growth on the Sunshine Coast requires better planning to make sure our infrastructure and housing can keep up. This is a wonderful part of Queensland and we need to keep it that way.
Deborah Moseley, The Greens: As the heart of the Sunshine Coast, Buderim is blessed with a wealth of natural and cultural beauty that we are all obliged to protect and cherish. The Greens are the only party with a real plan to tackle the housing and climate crises while also conserving our natural and cultural heritage. My priorities are delivering more social and community housing, making healthcare more accessible and affordable and tackling the corrupting influence of big business on our government. The Greens will build 100,000 new publicly-built homes by 2030, set up 200 free GP clinics so everyone can see a bulk-billing doctor, and legislate for truth in political advertising.
Adrian Burke, Australian Labor Party
CALOUNDRA – Caloundra, Caloundra South, Beerwah, Landsborough and surrounds
Kendall Morton, LNP: I have spent a year door knocking and calling people in this community, to make sure my priorities are your priorities. What I have heard time and time again, is that people are sick of traffic congestion, youth crime and cost-of-living; and nothing being done about it. If the LNP are elected later this month, my top priority will be to work in an LNP Government who are completely focused on fixing these issues. An LNP Government will deliver a $400 million congestion-busting traffic plan to fix Caloundra Road, we will restore safety where you live through stronger laws like Adult Crime, Adult Time and gold standard early intervention, and we will stop Labor’s expensive budget blowouts which are pushing up costs for families.
Mike Jessop, Independent: 1. Gambling reform: Restrict hours ‘gaming’ lounges are open and limit to token input. We need to restrict gaming room opening hours limiting wagers to modest bets or wagers that can only be placed using tokens managed personally by supervising staff. 2. Domestic violence guilty until proven innocent reform: For civil allegations such as domestic violence there should be civil penalties e.g. fine or compensation. 3. Automatic motel/backpacker rezoning/material change of use planning permission: To create more of the type of accommodation homeless would otherwise occupy having a mandatory proportion of land made available for planning purposes
Ben Storch, One Nation
Jason Hunt, Australian Labor Party (incumbent): When I’m chatting to folks in the community it’s clear that cost of living is affecting locals here in the Coast. Addressing this is my top priority and this government is bringing real relief through initiatives like 50-cent fares, $1000 energy bill rebates and 20 per cent off car registration. Delivering the infrastructure that our growing community needs is my next priority. Getting on with the job of delivering Sunshine Coast Direct Rail, Aura’s new PCYC, and investment in our local sport clubs like the Beerwah Bulldogs and Mets SLSC. Finally, prioritising healthcare services by extending the hours of our Caloundra Minor Illness Clinic along with a commitment to build a new Satellite Hospital right here at home if elected in October. This is all at risk under the LNP who have no plan and no vision for Caloundra.
Peta Higgs, The Greens: As a doctor who has worked in public health for over 30 years, I know my patients are struggling. They’re struggling to pay rent, they’re struggling to pay for the healthcare they need and they’re struggling with the impact of climate change on our communities with more floods, heatwaves and severe weather every season. My priority is making healthcare truly free which is why the Greens have a plan to build 200 publicly funded GP clinics to make sure everyone can see a bulk-billing GP. And that’s why we’ll fully fund public hospitals, delivering 2,000 more hospital beds and ending ambulance ramping.
Pamela Mariko, Animal Justice Party
Allison McMaster, Legalise Cannabis Queensland: We have one policy which encompasses many issues. There are large numbers of prescribed cannabis patients on the Sunny Coast who are struggling to afford access and products. This is so all over the state. The state government needs to have a subsidy in place for the financially vulnerable or allow them to grow at home if they can. Patients are also being discriminated against in the workforce and on the roads. Medicinal Cannabis has been legal for eight years. The laws do not reflect that and I will work hard to make changes in this area. These three things will be my top priority if elected because it will be these people voting for the LCQ in hopes of levelling the patient playing field.
GLASS HOUSE – Maleny, Montville, Glass House Mountains, Woodford and surrounds
Adam Farr, One Nation: Adam Farr, who has lived on the Sunshine Coast for 35 years, is a small business owner and is committed to fighting for the rights of everyday Australians, tackling cost-of-living pressures, the housing crisis, and strengthening democracy. The two major parties have lost touch with the real issues affecting Queenslanders. Coming from a construction background, Adam has seen first hand the regulatory burdens that stifle housing development and economic growth. Adam will advocate for affordable housing, sensible tax reforms and using Queensland’s natural resources to generate cheaper energy.
Timothy Hallcroft, Legalise Cannabis Queensland: My first and most important priority is to bring better education and training to the Coast. Making school-based apprenticeships open to all students to focus on our skills shortage. To look at the government to enter a more practical public housing model to tackle the housing crisis. By doing this the government can put into practice a sustainable affordable housing market. To look at ways to help small businesses cope by putting forward a viable framework for a hemp industry that once setup can create solid full-time employment for many coastal communities and Queensland as a whole.
Andrew Powell, LNP (incumbent): My main priorities for this election are to address the overarching issues gripping the whole of Queensland. We all in the midst of health, housing, crime and cost of living crises. These are all issues that are the direct responsibility of the state government to manage. Only the LNP have released detailed plans to tackle every one of these crises. Locally, I know how important our roads are to locals. You’re sick of driving on substandard, dangerous roads and rightly so. Which is why I and the LNP have announced many road-related commitments this election. They’re a priority for me because they’re a priority for you.
Humphrey Caspersz, Australian Labor Party: The Glass House community needs a government representative that is going to prioritise and advocate for their needs. When I am out in the community the three most common concerns I hear from locals are about transport, healthcare, and cost-of-living. Those will be the three main priorities I will focus on if elected in October. The Miles Labor Government is already doing so much for all three priorities and will continue to do more for the Sunshine Coast’s future.
Andrew McLean, The Greens: My number one priority is fighting against the corporate control that big business has over the major parties. The two old parties accepted $23 million in the last decade from mining corporations, big banks, developers and billionaires – and that’s why they put private profits ahead of public services. If we make those big corporations pay their fair share of tax, we can set up a publicly-owned developer to build cheaper, better built homes for people to buy in rent, set up a public bank for cheaper mortgages, fully fund public schools, TAFE and hospitals and give every community free and frequent public transport.
Bronwen Bolitho, Family First
KAWANA – Currimundi, Little Mountain, Bokarina, Buddina and surrounds
Jarrod Bleijie, LNP (incumbent): The LNP will restore safety where you live by introducing the Making Queensland Safer Laws before the end of the year which will restore consequences for actions in our youth justice system, including Adult Crime, Adult Time. We will also ensure that Queenslanders have a place to call home by securing our housing foundations and abolishing stamp duty for first home buyers when they build or buy a new home. We will also deliver generational infrastructure for the Sunshine Coast, including heavy passenger rail all the way to Maroochydore by 2032 and fixing Caloundra Road by investing $400 million into congestion-busting road projects.
Peter Hinton, One Nation
Ian Simons, The Greens: My top priorities are tackling the housing crisis, tackling the climate crisis and getting back to basics as a shoe-leather MP on the ground in his community every day. The Greens will expand QBuild to create thousands of apprenticeships in building and construction trades and set up a new public developer to build 100,000 publicly-built homes over the next six years. We will stop new coal and gas developments and build 100 per cent renewable and 100 per cent publicly-owned energy to protect the very future of our planet. And we’ll do it all by making big corporations pay their fair share of tax.
Jim Dawson, Australian Labor Party: My main priority is better access to good-quality healthcare here on the Sunshine Coast. The commitment by the new Premier Steven Miles to deliver a satellite hospital on the Sunshine Coast will benefit so many young families, workers, the elderly and students. Looking at ways we can deliver better well-paid secure jobs is a priority and initiatives like free TAFE are upskilling young people. Free kindy is a big priority for me as it shows ways the Miles Labor Government is investing in our young families. Our community is growing, and more younger families are moving here, we need to make sure we have the services ready for them.
MAROOCHYDORE – Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, Mudjimba, Marcoola and surrounds
Fiona Simpson, LNP (incumbent)
Naomi McQueen, Australian Labor Party: Transport is a massive priority for me. I know that a Labor government will deliver important infrastructure like the Sunshine Coast rail, and Bruce Highway updates, to support our growing community. Cost-of-living relief is another important priority, I recognise the pressure Sunny Coast families are under, raising my own family on a budget with the rising cost of bills is stressful. It’s why I’m advocating for more initiatives to support locals like $1000 off energy bills. Finally, ensuring every member of our community has access to the best healthcare services possible is vital and it’s something our Labor government will provide if elected.
Mark Wadeson, Independent: No to anti-male leftists. No to the leftists woke agenda. No to the treaty or welcome to country. We voted No! It was a stupid idea, that was a racist and made to divide the country. It is a No and others have forgotten. A simple way could have been to give Aborigines a higher tax-free rate to encourage them to work and let them own land instead of the Aboriginal companies that use this to control them in a communist way and prevent individual from achieving while taking all the money for themselves to run them. The leftist’s racism was never going to be accepted.
Heinrich Koekemoer, The Greens: As your Greens candidate for Maroochydore, my top three priorities are fixing the housing crisis, addressing climate change and properly investing in our healthcare system. We’ll address the Sunshine Coast’s acute housing shortage by expanding QBuild allowing construction of 100,000 public homes statewide over the next 6 years. Unlike the major parties, the Greens will stop new coal and gas developments, instead investing in public renewables and green manufacturing. Finally, we’ll address the chronic underfunding of the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service by funding urgent care clinics and a sustainable increase in hospital staffing to increase bed capacity.
Kyle Haley, One Nation
NICKLIN – Nambour, Cooroy, Palmwoods, Yandina, Kenilworth and surrounds
Phillip Eschler, Family First
Rob Skelton, Australian Labor Party (incumbent): Everywhere I go locals are telling me that cost-of-living is a massive concern for them. It’s why our Labor Government’s number one priority is taking action on the cost-of-living. Labor has taken $1300 off every household’s energy bill, implemented free TAFE and we’ve made 50-cent fares permanent – potentially saving locals hundreds of dollars a month. Another priority of mine is delivering Labor’s plan to unlock the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland region’s potential, by building new infrastructure to create local jobs and opportunities for businesses. The Borumba Pumped Hydro is a large-scale renewable energy project which will create nearly 3000 local jobs. Finally, healthcare is vital priority for myself and the Labor team.
Sue Etheridge, The Greens: My priorities are tackling the cost of living, housing and climate crises by making big banks, big mining companies and big developers pay their fair share of tax. With that money, we’ll cap rents and essential grocery prices. We’ll make mortgages cheaper with a public bank and deliver 100,000 publicly-built homes. We’ll hire hundreds of GPs and allied health professionals to make sure everyone can see a bulk-billing doctor. We’ll stop new coal and gas mines and invest in 100 per cent renewable and 100 per cent publicly owned energy.
Rebecca McCosker, One Nation
Steve Dickson, Independent: 1. A big priority for me to address is tackling the housing crisis on the Sunshine Coast by implementing our “Family Transfer Blocks” policy. This plan will allow rural landowners to subdivide one acre (4000sqm) from their property, creating 50,000 to 60,000 new parcels of land across Queensland. The responsibility for water, sewage, and electricity will fall on the landowners, and the land must stay within families for at least five years, providing immediate and sustainable housing solutions. 2. Youth rehab on rural properties is a game changer. It gives at risk teens a fresh start in a supportive environment, helping them break free from drugs and alcohol and address any underlying trauma and anger. 3. Heavy rail to the Sunshine Coast airport.
Marty Hunt, LNP
Melody Lindsay, Legalise Cannabis Queensland
NINDERRY – Coolum, Bli Bli, North Buderim, Eumundi and surrounds
Michael Stewart, One Nation
Jo Justo, Australian Labor Party: Our Sunshine Coast community is continuing to grow, and without the right infrastructure to support this growth, the lifestyle we all love will be diminished. That means we need to invest in improving our roads and access to public transport, to cater for population growth. We also need to ensure we have accessible healthcare to support our Sunshine Coast community – both of which are two of my top priorities and something we will focus on if elected in October. My final priority will be providing effective cost-of-living relief to all members of our community. The Miles Labor Government has delivered great cost of living measures like 20 per cent reduction in registration, $1000 off tools for first year apprentices as well as Free Kindy.
Dan Purdie, LNP (incumbent): One of the biggest issues locals have consistently raised is busting congestion and improving safety on our local roads, which is why I’ve made it one of my top priorities. We’ve managed secure $17 million to fix blackspots and intersections across the electorate, along with $2 million for design and preconstruction works at the notorious Pike/Killick Street and Maroochydore Road intersection in Kunda Park, and $6 million for a new active pedestrian bridge in Eumundi. We’ve also just announced $40 million for a second connection to the Sunshine Motorway at Mount Coolum, which will divert traffic away from the new intersection at Coolum State School, currently under construction.
Timothy Nixon, Legalise Cannabis Queensland: 1. Cannabis law reform – we must recognise the damage caused by treating drug use as a legal issue instead of a health issue. Legalising cannabis takes profits away from criminals and puts them into the local community. 2. Cost of living and housing – incentives should support housing alternatives (tiny homes) using products like hemp for more affordable, sustainable and superior building. Community gardens for seasonal fruit and vegetables. 3. Independence and self-sufficiency – a thriving cannabis/hemp industry (perfect for our climate) provides us with an opportunity to become increasingly independent and self-sufficient for our health, clothing, building and energy needs.
Tom Carden, The Greens: As a community services worker, my top priorities are fixing our broken health and education systems, tackling the housing crisis and building a more sustainable, fairer mining industry. Right now, Sunshine Coast renters and mortgage holders are being squeezed from all sides and people are being pushed to their breaking point. We’ll cap rent increases, build 100,000 new publicly-built homes and set up a public bank to keep interest rates low. And we’ll pay for all that – and fully funded public schools and guaranteeing bulk-billing – by making big mining companies pay their fair share of tax.
NOOSA – Noosa Heads, Tewantin, Peregian Beach, Pomona, Kin Kin and surrounds
Sandy Bolton, Independent (incumbent): Sandy is unapologetically ‘Noosa centric’ with commitments including to see the remaining stages of the Tewantin Bypass fast-tracked, with government now committing $8.5 million to do so, expansion of Noosa Hospital facilities and contracts, and completion of an Advanced Manufacturing Unit at Sunshine Beach State High School. On a broader Sunshine Coast and Queensland wide level, Sandy recently chaired the Youth Justice Reform Select Committee in Parliament with three MPs from each of the two major parties respectively to produce an interim report with sixty recommendations. After an unsuccessful attempt to block/delay the report by one of the major parties, the recommendations were tabled to honour the promise she made to Queenslanders.
Rhonda Prescott, The Greens: My top priorities are phasing out coal and gas, investing in TAFE to fix our skills shortage and delivering more affordable housing in Noosa. The Greens will stop new coal and gas mines being approved, deliver 100 per cent renewable and 100 per cent publicly owned energy and invest in critical minerals extraction needed for our green energy transition. We will expand fee-free TAFE courses and create thousands of apprenticeships in building and construction trades through our expanded QBuild plan. And we’ll pay for it all by increasing the royalties paid by large mining companies.
Clare Stewart, LNP: Stop Labor’s high-rise development proposals in Noosa. The LNP will stop the State-Facilitated Development process and work with council to ensure Noosa’s planning values are respected. This is my number one priority. Making our community safer by boosting police numbers to tackle community concerns including those with e-scooters and e-bikes, and initiatives such as establishing a Safe Night Precinct in Noosa which provides additional police powers and resources. Driving record investment in essential infrastructure including additional facilities for our boaties, pedestrian safety improvements in Pomona and much more.
Felicity Roser, Family First
Darrel Hinson, One Nation
Mark Denham, Australian Labor Party: My priorities for are focused on ensuring we have access to the best resources possible for our community that protects our idyllic lifestyle. This includes the best education for our students, world-class healthcare facilities and ensuring every local has job opportunities to set them up for the future they want. All of which is under threat by the LNP who when last in government sacked teachers, nurses and police. As a healthcare professional, my biggest priority is seeing our community access better healthcare closer to home, but importantly, improving health services already being delivered to our community like upgrades to Nambour and Noosa hospitals. As well as cost-of-living initiatives like free TAFE which is getting more Queenslanders trained up and into good jobs.
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
