CANDIDATE Q & A: Jennifer Stefanac, Palmer United Candidate for Hunter

The Hunter electorate needs to address health, regional development and opportunities with support mechanisms in place to ensure that every resident has the resources to ensure positive outcomes. The Palmer United Party believes that we need to release $70 billion to create confidence, demand and jobs. This can be done by changing the situation where companies pay tax quarterly, based on an estimate, to companies/small businesses being required to pay their tax annually based on their actual results. The Palmer United Party will also abolish Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT); injecting $4 billion into the Australian economy. FBT is a negative tax; it stops Australians doing things. It’s time for a change, a fundamental change. We (the people) will stimulate the economy and create more jobs.

Why did you want to run with the Palmer United Party?

I wanted to join with the Palmer United Party as Clive Palmer has the vision, knowledge and experience to turn this nation around to truly become the lucky country. No other leaders inspired me to follow them, and as they all seem to have the same track record that offers no real solution only continual broken promises.

If elected what will be your first priority?

To ensure that the Palmer United Party’s policies to turbo-charge the economy eg. $70 billion into the economy by changing the situation where companies pay their tax yearly, abolish the fringe benefits tax (FBT) and reduce tax on a second job to 50% on what is paid at the moment to get the economy going again. This means that it will create revenue so that we can have more facilities, schools and hospitals.

Have you run for federal government before?

My political involvement gained momentum in 2007, when I participated as an Independent Candidate for the Federal elections for the Senate, again in 2010, the NSW Legislative Council in 2011 and Cessnock Local Government elections in 2008 and 2012. My passion for people and politics is clear.

Can you tell us a little about your background and what skills you can bring to the job?

I was born into a connected, colourful and resilient family in Wellington NSW. This family was replaced by an adoptive one when I was a small baby, subsequently catapulting me from dusty, rural NSW into western Sydney’s working class demographic and ethos. In the 1990s I was reunited with my natural family, of Aboriginal descent. It is by necessity a slow process reforging those relationships, but doing so has given me sophisticated insight into Aboriginal family and community, add to this my adoptive family life: caring, grounded, immersed in the usual childhood sport, community groups and performing arts activities; I’ve been blessed and deeply challenged by the experiences and diversity of viewpoints of both black and white Australia.

Given my upbringing in Sydney’s West, I know working class people and what their expectations of government. They want a government that reunites the nation; that offers hope, education, and protection for the vulnerable
members of the community. I know the suffering, prejudices and social inequalities experienced by Aboriginal Australians. They want to achieve to capacity, unhindered by inequality, inadequate education, poverty, and a
history that has led in many cases to despair.

With just such interests at heart, I have served in various government departments, both State and Federal. The roles cover as broad a spectrum as Administrative Assistance through to Education Assistance and Aboriginal
Assessment Officer.

My current role as Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker within the Department of Community Services has spanned seven years.

It’s a safe Labor seat, how do you rate your chances of winning this election?

Unfortunately, the media do not give an equal voice to other parties and therefore the process is flawed as Australians are bombarded with the duopoly. If voters do not want an extra $150 per fortnight for the aged pension, if you do not want to claim $10,000 off your mortgage for the principal residence or inject money into the economy from the $70 billion that companies pay in their taxes to fund schools, hospital or other projects – do not vote for the Palmer United Party.

What do you think is your biggest challenge in this election?

To get the positive messages across is my biggest challenge. The Palmer United Party has positive messages to solve real issues for the economy and other important policies to ensure better outcomes for our citizens. It is a pity that Rupert can influence what the Australian public see, hear and read. Australians should decide who they want to govern, not others.

Why should people vote for you?

I truly believe that the Palmer United Party policies are designed for the people to encourage growth and opportunities. I believe that people deserve a member of parliament who will truly serve them and provide the right environment for their wellbeing. I am a positive person and want to ensure that the Hunter region grows in all areas.

Viewer Question: What plans do each party have to address the ageing population?

I believe that providing increases in our aged pensions is appropriate and respectful as our population is aging. In order to care for our elders, we need a positive plan that can ensure that our health services are available to all, especially in the regional areas. The Palmer United Party aims to inject $80 billion into health to ensure that we can deliver services to our aging population. People are at the forefront of our Palmer United
Party policies which are designed to ensure that those in our communities that are vulnerable are treated with dignity, can access appropriate services and ensure that we have a financial plan to have the funds to
provide a high level of care that is required. This applies especially to our Veterans who have given their lives to ensure that we have the freedoms that we all enjoy today.