Organised by the Residents Action Network (RAN), five of the six candidates vying for the seat of Lyne at the July 2 federal election put forward their intentions for the region.

Many in the audience were passionate about their views on some of the future policies pledged, particularly in regard to refugee intake, immigration, climate change and same sex marriage.

On more than one occasion the audience asked the incumbent member, Dr David Gillespie, to clarify what funding he has delivered to the region as “new” money, separate from funding normally allocated or money gained by previous governments and MPs.

“The upgrade of the Pacific Highway was a plan the Hawke Government put into play years ago and in your advertising it looks as thought you are building the highway,” said one audience member.

Dr Gillespie responded: “I did campaign for two election to get the highway, Sancrox interchange and the Oxley highway to Kempsey section fast tracked. The Coalition government restored the 80/20 [Federal/State] funding mix.”

Dr Gillespie was asked why politicians received a pay rise while pensioners “got nothing”.

“MPs wages were frozen for two years under the Abbott Government,” Dr Gillespie said.

“Pensions have gone up by CPI every year or increased by other indexes like MTAWE (Male total average weekly earnings) or the cost of living.

“Also there was the political pension reform in 2004 under which MPs no longer receive a pension when they retire, only the superannuation they earned. There is no more gold card.”

Same sex marriage, voluntary euthanasia, Safe Schools policy and border protection was raised in one question and the candidates were divided on each.

“I’m for voluntary euthanasia but same sex marriage has nothing to do with me,” said independent candidate Roger Riach.

“The Safe Schools policy just highlights we need to get rid of bullying at every level. Our border protection isn’t working when we are turning away boats full of people needing protection but allowing container loads of guns and drugs into the country.”

Independent candidate Brad Christensen said marriage should be between a man and a woman, in his view, but the Australian people should be granted the opportunity to go to the polls and vote on changing the Marriage Act to include same sex couples.

He agreed with the need for a voluntary euthanasia policy.

On Safe Schools he said there was a greater need for parents to take responsibility for raising their children, giving support to teachers and building resilience in children.

“I’d like to get Australia back on track and hold our borders for two years,” Mr Christensen said on boarder protection.

“Australia should come first.”

Labor candidate Peter Alley said he would vote in favour of changing the marriage act, should he be elected as Member for Lyne and his party win government.

“A plebiscite on changing the Marriage Act would be divisive in the community and bring more heat than light,” he said.

“It’s a legal matter rather to change the Act rather than the opinion of the populace.”

Mr Alley said infrastructure was needed around any proposal to allow voluntary euthanasia.

On Safe Schools Mr Alley said bullying is a “real issue” and should be treated seriously by experts.

On border protection Mr Alley said the asylum seeker issue should be about compassion not protection.

“Labor is firm on keeping the sea passage closed and, if needed, we will turn back boats. We would like to see in intake of asylum seekers increased and set up processing centres off-shore. We need to take proper care of the people in our care already and not hide immigration centres.”

Greens candidate Julie Lyford said her party supported voluntary euthanasia legislation and, as a former palliative care nurse, the conversation around the policy needed to be mature and not tainted by scaremongering.

On Safe Schools Mrs Lyford said if the policy encourages children to be compassionate, then it’s a good thing.

“I can’t believe we are still having the same sex marriage conversation,” she said.

“It’s not our right to tell someone who they can love, live with or marry.”

On border protection the Greens, Mrs Lyford said, would shut down detention centres on Manus Island and Naru where women are being raped and many other people are committing self-harm.

“We need a more compassionate Australia. I’m sick of the terrorism argument and scaremongering. I love this country and we need to be mature in resolving this,” Mrs Lyford said.

Dr Gillespie, a member of the Nationals, said the euthanasia issue needed careful definition.

“You can fly to Darwin and organise your demise,” Dr Gillespie said.

“There should be wide, responsible, sensitive palliative care and no need for euthanasia. This can be organised in your Advanced Care Directive.”

Dr Gillespie was not in favour of changing the Marriage Act to include same sex couples.

“This is separate from same sex unions,” he said.

“It’s not to say that same sex couples can’t get together but the institution of marriage transcends this and is about protecting women and children and it’s about procreation.”

Dr Gillespie said the Safe School proposal was “extreme and I don’t agree with it.”

Border protection, he said, was a serious issue resulting in deaths at sea. Allowing a flood of boats to come to Australia “destroys faith in the immigration system.”

He said the Coalition Government had a plan to increase Australia’s intake of refugees.

Refugee intake and skilled migration became a hot topic of discussion at the meeting.

“Australia has the capacity to increase refugee intake and absorb them into the migration scheme. It’s time to have a compassionate conversation,” Mrs Lyford said.

Mr Alley said: “Australia is a nation of immigrants. We need to not have skilled migrants to do the jobs that people here can do.”

Dr Gillespie said: “I would rather give our kids the skills to grow our nation.”

On immigration a member of the audience asked if there was a way to slow the intake so infrastructure and services can be properly managed to care and provide for those already here.

“Migration doesn’t hold us back,” Mr Alley said.

“We have to build homes and infrastructure for immigrants and that creates jobs. It’s false that many of our problems are a result of immigration. Migrants are not an ongoing burden. What they contribute back to our society outweighs what we put in to supporting them in our country initially.”

Harry Creamer from the Hastings branch of Climate Change Australia asked what the Coalition Government had done to address climate change and renewable energy targets.

Dr Gillespie spoke about the Coalition Government’s direct action plan, which offers financial incentives to polluters to reduce their emissions. Polluters bid to win tenders and be paid to undertake emissions reducing projects.

Mrs Lyford said Australia was in a dire situation and vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

“Locally we rely on the environment for many of our industries like oysters, seafood, tourism. The Emissions Trading Scheme fell into a political hole, the fear and spin by the government on the Carbon Tax was unbelievable. The Carbon Tax was costing Australians less than a cup of coffee a week. It was bringing in money and emissions were going down. When that was abolished, emissions went up again.

“It’s about time you used your vote to put a stop to the politics of this and take action.”

Mr Christensen said he supported solar energy and would consider policies surrounding nuclear energy too.

Mr Riach said diesel fuel is just as dangerous as asbestos and would like to see more transport moved from trucks to rail.

Drusi Megget, a former Greens candidate, asked for truth in politics.

“The government cut health funding then announced it was increasing health funding but only by a quarter of the amount they had cut. The government blamed the senate for blocking policy, but that was really because the policies were unfair. The Coalition is promising jobs and growth but what will it deliver?” Ms Megget asked.

Dr Gillespie said the government had a suite of initiatives to grow the economy, particularly by assisting small businesses employ more people, reducing the tax rate and increase youth employment. He said the federal government could only reduce “red tape” by a certain amount, encouraging the state government to do the same.

Mrs Lyford quoted statistician Bernard Salt when he said small enterprise was the back bone of Australia. 

“The government has decimated the TAFE system which was a world leader in education,” she said.

“The Turnbull Government paid private enterprise to do courses that were once TAFE-based. It’s now costing people more do to the courses and that’s compounding the skills shortage we have in Australia.

“The Greens would like to strengthen competition policy for small business so that the likes of Coles and Woolies can’t take over small towns.”

Peter Alley said businesses he speaks to are more concerned about attracting customers rather than red tape. He said government cuts to health and education hurt regional Australia.

“Labor will restore Gonski funding in full, that is dollars into the economy which will in turn go into local business,” Mr Alley said.

Mr Christensen said any program to assist small business would have his support.

“We need to look at the big picture and support education, particularly in technical colleges to help kids who don’t want to be in year 11 and 12. They need to be learning skills to gain employment. That will get them off unemployment benefits and grow Australia,” he said.