With the announcement of the 2025 Federal Election, Greens candidate for Cunningham Jess Whittaker has a simple message as the Federal election begins: If you want change, you have to vote for it.
Ms Whittaker, a health care worker and Wollongong City councillor, said a vote for the Greens is the only way to ensure that positive policies that will help cost of living pressures will be implemented.
Ms Whittaker said the Greens plan to bring dental and mental health care into Medicare, 50 cent public transport fares, wiping HECs debt and making housing affordable is exciting.
“We need change to address the crushing cost of living and housing problems we are facing in Cunningham.
“Money should not be a barrier to high quality health care. It also shouldn’t be a barrier to public transport and that is why it’s important for people to be able to travel throughout Cunningham and beyond for 50 cents a trip.
“We believe in giving everyone an opportunity to better themselves and that is why we will make TAFE and universities free and wipe all student HECs debt.”
Ms Whittaker said, “These policies will have direct financial benefit to many people in Cunningham and will help to reduce the weekly pressure on our pay packets.
“Right now housing is increasingly unaffordable and everyone should have a secure home. We will make housing affordable by putting rent caps, bringing down mortgages, phasing out tax handouts to wealthy property investors and increasing the rights of renters.”
“Adam Bandt, Federal Greens leader, said this election is the best chance in a generation to get big corporations to pay their fair share of tax. And I believe this is true.
“The two old, tired Labor and Coalition have repeatedly shown they are more interested in assisting large corporations and Australian billionaires than the rest of us.
“They have shown the prospects of change are slim. So we can’t keep on relying on them for assistance.
“If you want things to change you have to vote for it.”
Ms Whittaker also highlighted the Greens plan to shift to renewable energy sources, create an electricity generation and supply network where we–the local people–benefit, rather than large corporations or friends of the two major political parties.
“We can’t wait for the shift to highly contentious, costly and dubious nuclear energy nor can we wait for the current Labor government to stop approving new coal and gas mining operations. We need to strike right now to reduce our greenhouse gases and ensure that together we gain the benefits of the enormous potential that Australia offers,” Ms Whittaker said.
“We have an amazing chance now for change. So at this election the choice is simple, for change to happen, you have to vote for the Greens first.”
