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Casuarina by-election: Candidate Q&A reveals seven stark choices

The ABC asked the seven candidates standing in the Casuarina by-election the same set of questions.

Their responses ranged from the practical to the far-reaching.

George Mamouzellos



  • Age: *35


  • Profession: *Businessman with pharmacy degree


  • Years lived in Northern Territory:* 30 (studied interstate)


  • Electorate lives in:* Brinkin, Casuarina


  • Political hero: *unsung people whose stories are unknown


  • Campaign motto:* Government exists to make people's lives better, with intelligent, common sense decisions that keep the Territory running properly right now, and for all generations that follow. We are caretakers, not celebrities. The next election doesn't matter - the next generation does. I'm not in politics for a job. I'm in it for a purpose.


  • Four line pitch to voters: *

Build Farmers Markets, air-con, open daily, with attached auction house. Good cheap local food saves money and creates real jobs, now.


  • A government-owned servo will fix fuel overcharging overnight, forever. We had the same problem with health insurance, and so the government set up Medibank Private. It worked. We should do it again.


  • No more selling government-owned assets like TIO, Power Water, or ports. It took generations of Australians paying tax to pay them off. Selling those assets usually creates a private monopoly.

  • High-rise parking at the hospital must be built. The people who go to the hospital the most are old. They can't walk far. They haven't got much money. When they were young, they built us the whole hospital - parking and all. As pensioners, paying even a few dollars a day is a big deal. It must be built right away, and be free to those who need it to be free.


    • What are your policies on euthanasia? *We need some serious economic policies to stop this from happening, immediately. I don't want to talk about euthanasia until a decent life is actually an option for old people, and certainly wont be voting either way until it is. No more talk about death. Let's talk about money.


    • Nuclear dumping in NT? *No nuclear waste should be dumped in the Northern Territory at all.


    • What should be done to reduce Darwin fuel prices?* A government owned servo is the surest way of resolving fuel price overcharging immediately, and forever. What is missing from the Darwin fuel retail market is a single servo to drop its price first, when the wholesale price goes down. In Katherine, where the cost of doing business is higher than in Darwin, and fuel costs are higher also due to transport, fuel is often a full 10 cents cheaper. This is due to a single maverick servo owner dropping his price along with the wholesale price. That single service station owner acts as a "price leader" in the market, making it competitive, and fair. We are missing that "price leader", and so must provide one through government ownership.


    Trevor Jenkins - Independent



    • Age:* 50


    • Profession:* Performance artist


    • Political hero:* Nelson Mandela


    • Years lived in Northern Territory:* Nine


    • Electorate lives in:* Casuarina


    • Campaign motto:* Community not economy


    • Four line pitch to voters:*

      1. I dress like a woman because men get treated like shit and are abused

      2. (I want) community centres at Casuarina Square offering free mental health checks, counselling and help

      3. (I want) cheap, affordable housing solutions for people

      4. (I want) educational and literacy support for indigenous, homeless men, and people released from prison


    • What are your policies on euthanasia?* I don't support it, as I am Christian. I support better hospice and palliative care


    • Nuclear waste dumping in NT?* Yes. We need to take responsibility for the nuclear waste we produce


    • What should be done to reduce Darwin fuel prices?* I support alternative energies: biodiesel, electric, pedal, gas and organic fuels


    Jack Childers Henderson - Independent



    • Age:* 66 and healthy


    • Profession:* Degree in Accounting from Charles Darwin University, accountant with H&R Block, then ran own tax accounting business


    • Political hero:* Paul Keating


    • Years lived in Northern Territory:* 44


    • Electorate lives in:* Port Darwin


    • Campaign motto:* "Jack is back", back to basics


    • Four line pitch to voters:*

      1. Education: Smaller classes to improve teacher/student ratios

      2. Medical care: cut the waiting time

      3. House prices and rent: Reduce by simplification of regulations

      4. Make government open to public scrutiny


    • What are your policies on euthanasia?* Neutral


    • Nuclear waste* *dumping in NT?* No


    • What should be done to reduce Darwin fuel prices?* Government-owned fuel stations


    Trudy Campbell - Citizen's Electoral Council



    • Age:* 65


    • Profession:* Registered nurse, registered midwife


    • Political hero:* Socrates


    • Years lived in Northern Territory:* Eight


    • Electorate lives in:* Tiwi


    • Campaign motto:* Break with the Brits, Join with the BRICS


    • Four line pitch to voters:*

      1. Glass-Steagall Law to bankrupt the British Empire of Monetarism

      2. National Credit bank

      3. Major infrastructure, maglev rail, nuclear power, water management, industries and manufactures

      4. Join with the International Space Program to address asteroid monitoring and the mining of Helium-3 on the moon, to fuel the future nuclear fusion power.


    • What are your policies on euthanasia?* I agree with "Never-Again" and see these debates as anti-human, evil, even satanic


    • Nuclear waste* *dumping in NT?* What a great stockpile for future resources using the "fusion torch"


    • What should be done to reduce Darwin fuel prices?* Nationalise our natural resources. The criminal multinationals loot our oil at a cost to them of $5.00 a barrel. Where is our Government in our defence?


    Lauren Moss - Australian Labor Party (ALP)



    • Age:* 27


    • Profession: *Small business owner and Project Officer at Headspace. Holds a Bachelor of Business


    • Years lived in Northern Territory:* 15


    • Electorate lives in:* Grew up in Nakara, bought my first home in nearby suburb


    • Campaign motto: *Speaking up for Casuarina


    • Four line pitch to voters:*

      1. I will speak up for the people of Casuarina on the issues that are impacting on them the most.

      2. I am listening and speaking up against cost of living pressures, cuts to education and health and the protection of our reserve.

      3. By standing up for Casuarina I will be advocating for our community to get a fair deal.

      4. I hope to build on the great work Kon Vatskalis did as the local member for 13 years.


    • Political hero:* Bob Hawke. Hawke led Labor to successive wins, introduced Medicare and produced excellent education reform. In more recent times, I admire Kate Ellis because she is a fabulous role model for young women and in addition she was involved in the early work that formed the base of the creation of Skin Deep.


    • What are your policies on euthanasia? *I personally support euthanasia within a regulated environment.


    • Nuclear dumping in NT?* I'm opposed to a nuclear dump in the Territory – any decision on a nuclear dump in Australia should be based on science and have a mandate from Territory voters.


    • What should be done to reduce Darwin fuel prices?* Facilitate greater competition in the market by supporting an independent retailer committed to be a price leader to enter the market. Introduce a mobile application with up-to-date petrol price information to help consumers support the best price at the bowser, supporting more competition in pricing. Fight Canberra’s fuel excise hike that will add another cent every year.


    Dr Harry Kypreos - Country Liberals (CLP)



    • Age: *35


    • Profession:* Medical Doctor


    • Years lived in Northern Territory:* over 27


    • Electorate lives in:* Casuarina


    • Political hero: *Winston Churchill


    • Campaign motto:* Local Action in Government


    • Four line pitch to voters:*

      1. Casuarina needs someone experienced, raised and living in Casuarina, that has a plan.

      2. I am committed to lowering the cost of living.

      3. I’ve already been able to make progress on fuel prices as a candidate, imagine what I could achieve in Government.

      4. I am the only candidate able to offer positive outcomes in Casuarina from the first day.


    • What are your policies on euthanasia?* As a doctor I am trained to save people's lives not harm them. I am pro dying with dignity and helping patients lead a comfortable and pain-free life.


    • Nuclear dumping in NT?* If the evidence shows it could be done safely and the owners of the land are in favour of it, it could present an economic to create remote jobs for locals.


    • What should be done to reduce Darwin fuel prices?* With any problem it helps to acknowledge there is a problem and clarify the issues and I have started the conversation on fuel prices. We have seen action occur and legislation drafted, and I will continue to fight on this issue.


    Dr Michael Connard - The Greens



    • Age:* 42


    • Profession:* Medical Doctor


    • Political hero:* Nelson Mandela


    • Years lived in Northern Territory:* Seven


    • Electorate lives in:* Casuarina


    • Campaign motto:* Better health, better education funding, better development and more open democracy for Casuarina


    • Four line pitch to voters:*

      1. Territorians are sick of cronyism and back door deals – good governance requires listening to experts

      2. Experts tell us that we’re wasting $30 million a year on mandatory alcohol rehab which isn’t working. This money could be spent on voluntary rehab and preventative health care

      3. Experts tell us that fracking threatens our groundwater – during the fracking process, and also years later when bores fail. We must have an immediate moratorium on fracking until we can make sure that our water is safe

      4. The Casuarina Coastal Reserve is well used and well loved but has been neglected. It needs a ranger, it needs weed and fire control and it needs a real management plan


    • What are your policies on euthanasia? *Any discussion regarding voluntary euthanasia in the NT is inappropriate until we have adequately resourced palliative care throughout the entire NT


    • Nuclear waste* *dumping in NT?* We cannot allow the NT to become the dumping ground for Australia’s nuclear waste. We certainly shouldn't import radioactive waste from overseas, and nor should we allow the old Lucas Heights reactor to be dismantled and brought here. Water is the most precious commodity in the NT and it would be madness to risk contamination from a poorly planned and regulated nuclear waste dump.


    • What should be done to reduce Darwin fuel prices?* This government has allowed fuel prices in Darwin to rise more than in the rest of Australia. Competition at the pump has plummeted under this government. Restoring competition should produce a temporary decline in fuel prices. Unfortunately we know that long term fuel prices in Darwin & the rest of the world will continue to increase. We must prepare for this by investing more in public transport, in bicycle paths and in renewable energy.


    • For more information* on the Casuarina electorate, visit Antony Green's election blog.