Setting a new record for email interview replies Liberal Leader Jeremy Hanson has responded to your questions with these answers:
1. poetix
What is your favourite music, and why?
Pretty diverse tastes from AC/DC to classical but if I have a favourite it’s country music with a bluesy edge. Reason being I play the guitar and sing along really badly which is easier to do with that style of music. Just bought Mark Evans and Dave Tice ‘Brothers in Arms’ on ITunes which might give you an idea.
2. Thumper
What is your stance on the over supply of bloody pokies in this town?
Ask the Labor Party, they’re the experts on pokies…
Seriously though, I’m not anti pokie. We won’t be looking to significantly change the current number in the short term.
3. PantsMan
Given the corruption findings by NSW ICAC in relation to the former NSW Government, and every NSW council around the ACT, do you think we are immune for corruption? Should the ACT have an ICAC?
We are not immune from corruption but I’m not in favour of an ICAC in the ACT. I think we are too small for such an entity to be practicable or in any way cost effective. We can always refer matters to the Police, as was the case over emergency department data doctoring.
With the Police, Ombudsman and Auditor General we are well covered but if we were to go down the ICAC route we could perhaps have a joint ICAC with NSW similar to the way we share the ombudsman with the Federal Government.
4. caf
How will the Canberra Liberals change under your leadership?
The values, principles and broad direction of the Party won’t change. I’m a different person from Zed so our styles will be different and I’ll let others be the judge. I had 22 years in the Army so I’m mindful not to be typecast as the ‘Colonel’ and will work hard to take the party and people of Canberra with me.
5. bundah
In light of another woeful decision where a Canberra man has avoided gaol for crashing and killing his wife while high on cannabis what will you do to fix the ongoing joke that the judiciary has become in this town over the last decade?
I’m mindful of the important separation that exists between the judiciary and Assembly members and won’t comment on individual cases.
I am however very proud that last term I introduced the ACT’s first drug driving laws, which at least gives police the powers to try to prevent these sorts of crimes.
I understand the concerns that the community express regularly about our court system. One area that does concern me greatly is the issue of bail and how it is applied.
6. jett18
What single issue in Canberra do you see as in need of change the most?
The single biggest and best change would be a change of government. We need a Government focused on delivering better basic services for the people we are paid to represent rather than the current fascination with being ‘the most Green progressive Government in Australia’.
What we have now is a push for needles in the jail instead of shorter waiting times in the Emergency Departments, public art programs instead of local services programs, banning plastic bags and shopping trolleys instead of cleaning local shops. Basics count.
7. rosscoact
How would a Hanson Liberal government increase and diversify Canberra’s income base?
Get more out of being our National Capital and the seat of Government and attract all the business connected to that, including hospitality.
Take on a more substantive role as a regional centre.
Look to the things we do well such as high tech and tertiary education and look at ways for those sectors to grow.
Make it more attractive for business to do business in Canberra through de regulation and micro economic reform – we are over taxed, overregulated and underserviced.
8. urchin
What would you do to make housing cheaper. Not easier to buy (land rent, etc.) but *cheaper*.
Ultimately it’s supply and demand. Land release has not been well managed in this town and there is significant room for improvement.
Stamp duty relief for first home buyers is also important, as is addressing the massive overtax that is Lease variation Charge. Both of these are that taxes make housing less affordable.
9. Skidbladnir
Why has it been about 15 years since the ACT populace viewed the local Liberal party acting as a viable government, let alone a viable alternative government, and how will you address this?
I don’t agree with this statement at all. Last October, more people voted Liberal than Labor, getting us the best result in history and close to government. However, the last remaining Green member joined with Labor with the intent of making the ACT the most extreme green and left jurisdiction in Australia.
In time I believe an increasing number of ACT residents will grow to dislike the extreme agenda the Greens/Labor Government is pushing.
One of the reasons we did do so well last term was our attention out in the community. We will continue to be out on the ground, listening, talking and being interested in what matters to you. Expect to see a lot of the eight Canberra Liberals MLA’s out in the community for all four years, not just the election year.
10. frontrow
Under the Liberals, will parking fees be set to effectively ration parking, maximise revenue or punish drivers in order to encourage public transport?
No – we are not anti car or anti parking. Around 90 percent of all adults in Canberra use their cars. The sort of price escalation that Labor uses to drive people out of their cars is something we reject.
Will parking meters be upgraded to accept cards or at least notes? If not, will you at least be able to buy pre-paid parking vouchers for Civic in Civic?
Credit card parking was a Liberal election policy in 2012 released by my deputy Alistair Coe.
Will flexible work arrangements be supported by offering pre-paid vouchers for non-consecutive days?
Happy to look at that, sounds like exactly the sort of thing I would support..
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