Federal election candidates: Banks – St George and Sutherland Shire Leader

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ST GEORGE is shaping as a major battleground in the federal election, with increasing attention from prominent politicians and the media.

The Hurstville-centred seat of Banks and adjoining Barton, which takes in Kogarah and Rockdale, will be crucial in the election, which Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced would be held on September 14.

The list of candidates for Banks, as per the ballot draw are:

BANKS

1. Melham, Daryl (Labor Party)

2. Wellham, Jake John (Palmer United Party)

3. Khedr, Sayed (Independent)

4. Richardson, Ross (Katter’s Australian Party)

5. Spight, Paul (The Greens) 

6. Falanga, Mark (Christian Democratic Party, Fred Nile Group)    

7. Haddad, Robert Michael (Democratic LabourParty)

8. Coleman, David (Liberal Party)

See related story: http://www.theleader.com.au/story/1497710/mps-flood-electorates-as-election-battle-nears/?cs=12

and seat profile: http://www.theleader.com.au/story/1721376/alp-control-under-threat-in-banks/

CANDIDATES

Daryl Melham, ALP:

Born and raised in the Banks electorate, Labor’s Daryl Melham reckons many of the values he has always held were developed at St Luke’s Revesby and De La Salle Revesby Heights: principles of non-discrimination, tolerance and respect.

He studied law and economics at Sydney University and went on to work as a public solicitor with the NSW Legal Aid Commission before becoming a barrister, working as a public defender prior to his election to Parliament in 1990. He has held Banks since then.

‘‘When my parents first settled here in the 1930s Revesby was still full of market gardens,’’ he said.

‘‘Like so many people, my parents struggled to make ends meet as they worked hard to raise my seven brothers, two sisters and me.

‘‘Many things have changed, but this remains as true today as it did for my parents:  the desire for a good education, real opportunities in life, and a comfortable living. That’s why I ran for Parliament.’’

 Lots of good things had been achieved, he said, but there was a lot more to be done.

‘‘I’m proud that Hurstville Oval – home of Sir Don Bradman – will get a much-needed upgrade which will mean better facilities for cricketers, footy players, cyclists, community groups and schools,’’ he said.

‘‘I’m proud that we’ve secured funds to start the rebuild of St George Hospital, with a new intensive care unit and high dependency care unit.

‘‘I’m proud that our education improvements will deliver an average of $1.7 million per school in our community for better-trained teachers, updated textbooks and more one-to-one attention.’’

Of the things that still need to be done, Mr Melham, 58,  includes easing cost of living pressures, finishing the rebuild of St George Hospital and working with local and state governments to fix parking problems.

‘‘Led by Tony Abbott, the Coalition has a very different plan for Australia. ‘‘They have made cuts to the schoolkids’ bonus, cuts to health and an unfair paid parental leave scheme their priority;  I respectfully disagree.

‘‘I am looking forward to what more needs to be done.  

‘‘Whoever is in government, I’ll take up the fight for my local community: it’s what I’ve always done and always will do.’’

Banks candidate for the Palmer United Party Jake Wellham has had careers in hotel management and real estate.

For the past three years or so he has been a lawyer, having taken up the study of law while laid up in hospital with a broken back.

He said his party offered change and democracy after the sameness of Liberal and Labor policies.

‘‘People need to vote for change and see the country change completely,’’ Mr Wellham said.

‘‘We need to kick-start the economy again.’’

He would like to see the expansion of the M5 and a railway line from Hurstville to Strathfield to bring more people and business to the Hurstville side of Banks.

Married with two children, Mr Wellham has been actively involved in the community from a young age.

He was the youngest Lions Club president when he headed the Hurstville branch and has been instrumental in raising funds for many civic projects.

“I believe people deserve to have opportunities, a strong community and the ability to earn a decent income that isn’t eroded by government interference and excessive taxation,” Mr Wellham said.

Independent for Banks Sayed Khedr felt he had to do something about the cost of living faced by working families.

He said most families struggled with one or more of the following problems: living costs, shortage of rental properties, high rents, high interest on mortgages, unemployment, job insecurity and striving for the survival of their businesses.

Mr Khedr, a Bankstown lawyer and father of three, said ordinary families found it almost impossible to save for a house.

‘‘But the major parties don’t care about families — they are just for big projects and big companies. No one is offering a solution for families.’’

One of Mr Khedr’s solutions is a national housing scheme for working families who cannot save enough for a house deposit on an average income.

‘‘My campaign is about solving the housing crisis, supporting local businesses, creating jobs and improving the economy,’’ he said. 

‘‘The asylum seekers’ issues that causes me most concern are the reuniting of families and protecting genuine refugees.

‘‘Real solutions are achievable; it is not rocket science.’’

Katter’s Australia Party candidate Ross Richardson is very passionate about Bob Katter’s ideas and reckons they could do a lot to put Australia on the right track.

‘‘I met Bob at a meeting and realised that what he is about and what I’m about are pretty similar,’’ Mr Richardson, 44, said.

An aircraft engineer from the Hurstville area, he is tired of watching public assets being sold off, manufacturing jobs disappearing , small business getting squeezed out by the big chains and TAFEs being stripped in favour of private collages in the face of trades shortages.

‘‘Everywhere you look businesses are closing down and everyone is being made redundant or in fear of being made redundant; jobs are going overseas — it’s death by a thousand cuts,’’ Mr Richardson said.

‘‘Essentially we need to do something, we need to start looking after ourselves.

‘‘We need to invest locally and look after businesses that are looking after our country by employing Australians.

‘‘But we are not doing that as a country, because everyone has their own agenda.’’

Mr Richardson, married to Kerri, has three boys going to local public schools.

Paul Spight is running for The Greens in Banks for the second time and reckons things are looking up for his party.

‘‘We are finding that many voters are sick of the two main parties and are starting to have a look at The Greens’ policies for the first time,’’ Mr Spight said.

‘‘All our policies are available online [at] greens.org.au/platform and have been costed by the parliamentary budget office.’’

While hoping to improve on his 9.6 per cent of the vote at the last election, Mr Spight’s main goal is to get more of ‘‘the foot in the door’’ for Greens in the Senate.

He said The Greens stood for a healthy environment, a caring society and a cleaner economy.

They want to prioritise funding for public transport, walking and cycle paths, rail and other sustainable transport infrastructure to help ease road congestion.

Mr Spight lives in Hurstville with wife Sandra and works in the family currency exchange business.

He lists Denticare as a major Greens’ achievement during the past three years.

Mark Falanga, Christian Democrat (Fred Nile (Group) has been part of the East Hill community for 25 years.

Married to Ula of 32 years, they have two adult children, Madeline and Anthony.

They have been attending Padstow Baptist church for 22 years and are committed to family values.

Mr Falanga, 54, has owned and operated a successful engineering business in Revesby for 22, before selling it 2008.

In 2011 he started a waste and recycling business and in Moorebank and is committed to environmental sustainability and reducing waste to landfills.

Mr Falanga is concerned about problems faced by business, the health system, local employment and training for the young work force.

He said the country had to make some hard decisions to get it on the right track, including doing something to boost manufacturing, putting more money into aged care and getting rid of the carbon tax because.‘‘We basically want an honest government,’’ Mr Falanga said

Other concerns include the environment, indirect taxes and the housing crisis.

Democratic Labour Party candidate Robert Haddad said the party was working towards a balance of power it once enjoyed in the senate between the ‘‘split’’ of 1955 and 1974, when all DLP senators lost their seats.

He said the party was ‘‘moderate and centrist’’ and determined to support traditional families, small business, workers and communities.

‘‘We are strong on Australian industries and believe the car industry should be supported, and we should keep the related skill set here,’’ he said.

‘‘Our primary measuring stick is where you stand on pro-life issues — we are pro the traditional family, so there would be no change to marriage.’’

He said they wanted to stop the refugee boats and believed in border protection, but didn’t agree with offshore processing. 

Those who were not genuine refugees should be repatriated.

Mr Haddad, 49, has lived in the Bankstown area all his life, and is married with four children.

He works for the Catholic Education Office and lectures part-time at the University of Notre Dame, Sydney.

David Coleman, Liberal candidate for Banks, says this election is a choice between three more years of a failed Labor government, or the Coalition’s positive plan for the future.

‘‘The last six years of the Labor government have been filled with chaos, division and incompetence,’’ he said.

‘‘Australia cannot afford three more years of Labor.’’

Mr Coleman, a television executive, said Labor’s carbon tax had significantly increased the cost of living and its out-of-control spending had led to a gross government debt of more than $250 billion.

‘‘Its changes to border protection have led to more than 50,000 illegal arrivals since 2007 at a cost of more than $11 billion,’’ he said.

‘‘We need to change the government in order to get Australia back on track.’’

Mr Coleman said if elected the Coalition would build a stronger, diversified economy; abolish the carbon tax; end waste and debt; build the roads of the 21st century; and stop the boats with proven policies.

‘‘Locally in Banks, we have made a number of important commitments,’’ he said.

They include:

■ CCTV cameras in Riverwood, Narwee, Penshurst and Mortdale.  These cameras are to help monitor criminal activity, contributing to improved safety.

■ Green Army projects along the Georges River.  These would employ teams of people for six months to help improve water quality and to plant vegetation in areas that need it.

■ Pole Depot  will get $500,000 towards much-needed building projects. The Pole Depot in Penshurst does a wide range of valuable community work.

■ WestConnex — a coalition government will commit $1.5 billion towards WestConnex.  Importantly, the roads project includes a duplication of the M5 East, which will help reduce traffic congestion in the area.

‘‘The people of Banks need a change of government and if elected I will always fight for the electorate and be the strong voice in Parliament the people of Banks need,’’ Mr Coleman said.