1 May 2025
Greens candidate for Cunningham Jess Whittaker has outlined how the 2025 Federal election is a once in a generation chance to vote for major change in Australia.
“Why vote for change?" Jess said.
"Imagine if uni students on leaving university had no HECs debts. In Cunningham we have 23,000 people with staggering HECs debts totalling $637 million. And the majority, 61 per cent, are women. Imagine if these citizens had more money in hand to purchase the essentials, or start saving for a house.
“Imagine if we had dental health care in Medicare. You could see a dentist and not have to worry about an exorbitant procedure that would cost one or two weeks wage. Your oral hygiene is a big indicator of your general and mental health.
“We have a great chance to get dental and mental healthcare into Medicare. The Greens would make mental health care free by removing the cap on subsidised sessions.
“Why vote for change? Right now in Australia we have a Labor government that has approved more than 26 fossil fuel developments, including 12 new and expanded coal mines, five new and expanded oil and gas projects, and nine offshore gas exploration permits. Coal projects alone will result in 2.5 billion tonnes of climate pollution going into our atmosphere over their lifetime. [Figures from the Climate Council, April 2025.]
“A coalition government has said it will get Australia’s gas sector back on track by slashing approval times in half and commit to an annual release of offshore acreage for gas exploration and development. This would be for the large multinational companies that currently pay little or no taxes.
“Why vote for change? Our cost of living crisis is essentially an equality crisis. While many people, families, pay taxes and struggle with rent or the mortgage, quality food, and other essentials in life, one in three corporations pay no tax. The two major supermarkets in Australia are complicit in price gouging, while making enormous profits. [Last financial year, Coles reported a net profit of $1.1 billion, while Woolworths announced an initial net profit of $1.7 billion.] This bakes in the inequality in Cunningham. The Greens would make price gouging illegal.
“The Greens plan to tackle the cost of living also includes bringing back free GPs and open public health clinics, cap unlimited rent increases, making free childcare and early childhood education, funding and fostering world class, truly free public schools. As well as subsidising solar cells and batteries for homes and businesses.
“So this election if you feel it’s right for change, vote for those changes that will benefit all of us. It’s time to vote Greens.”
