Bega votes: Candidates Q&A on key topics

While there are bound to be more issues influencing your vote when you visit the polling booth, we took their pulse on 10 main ones for you to consider, compiled by ACM journalists in tune with their respective communities across the electorate.

READ ALSO: Your essential guide to voting in the Bega electorate this state election

Each candidate with whom we were able to make contact was given the same list of questions, word limit and deadline, and their answers are published below.

Answers are published in the order in which the candidates appear on the ballot paper.

Greg White, Legalise Cannabis Australia - Will fight for this essential service for the people of this region.

Cathy Griff, Greens - Yes! Having driven and stayed on my own in Nowra to receive radiotherapy I understand that sad experience. Eurobodalla's population warrants local radiotherapy.

Karin Geiselhart, Sustainable Australia Party - Yes, Sustainable Australia Party has comprehensive health policies. I've had radiation treatment, and imposing travel on patients is not acceptable.

Jeffrey Hawkins, Independent - Radiotherapy appears to be an urgent need, can this be accommodated in current medical centres until the hospital is completed?

Russell Fitzpatrick, Liberal - The Australian Labor Party announced $8 million for a radiotherapy centre in Eurobodalla as an election commitment prior to the 2022 federal election. I will advocate for the federal government to honour this commitment. The NSW Liberals are investing $260million into the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital which will be a state-of-the-art facility when it opens.

Michael Holland, Labor - More than 5500 people have petitioned for local radiotherapy services in the Bega electorate. I will continue to advocate for this necessary service on their behalf.

Greg White - Will consider any state government proposal in consultation with our local community and fight for the best interests of the locals.

Cathy Griff - Moruya needs the new EOC, which does not necessarily mean downgrading Bega's Fire Control Centre. Critically the two facilities need off-grid power to ensure communications.

Karin Geiselhart - As an SES member I have keen interest in effective planning and integration of emergency services, to ensure broad emergency response is available and maintained.

Jeffrey Hawkins - Collaboration is key to response, I would recommend Moruya as Northern Operations, Bega as Southern. The location of the emergency will determine the Primary Control Centre, with secondary Operations Centre support.

Russell Fitzpatrick - I will advocate for the option of a new centre in Bega to continue to be investigated.

Michael Holland - I have advocated to the Minister for Emergency Services to have the Bega Valley RFS Fire Control Centre and Jellat Rural Fire Brigade station relocated to the Bega saleyards. My request was declined.

Greg White - Support ratios for the very best care. Legalising cannabis has great potential to provide significant economic benefits to the region, boosting local health services.

Cathy Griff - Greens have always backed the safe staffing ratios proposed by the Nurses and Midwives Association. Safety also means awarding higher salaries for health workers.

Karin Geiselhart - I support the ratios the nurses and midwives request. They are essential front line workers. Excellence in health care requires support for our health workers.

Jeffrey Hawkins - Nurse to patient ratios should be determined by the front line workers, rather than administrative imposed limitations. From administration, we will need to identify the causes of the increased need, to better address the nurses requirements.

Russell Fitzpatrick -

Between mid-2012 and mid-2022 our public health system has increased its workforce by an additional 25,700 full time equivalent staff - an increase of 25.2 per cent, including 9340 more nurses and midwives, 4140 more doctors, and 2490 more allied health staff. In June 2022, the NSW Liberal Government also announced the largest ever health workforce boost in the nation's history, with a $4.5 billion investment over four years to recruit 10,148 full-time equivalent staff to hospitals and health services across the state.

Michael Holland - NSW Labor has committed to enforceable safe nursing numbers starting in emergency departments. This is a mandated mimimum ratio which operates as an industrial agreement rather than legislation.

Greg White - Cannabis crops can significantly boost local economies as evidenced overseas. Fast growing, sustainable crops could be the answer to a raft of local issues.

Cathy Griff - Appropriately tax big corporations. Return power assets to state hands and reduce energy bills via renewables. Scrap public sector wage cap. Fully fund public education.

Karin Geiselhart - Sustainable Australia Party's policies address the root causes of problems. For example, the housing crisis is driven by government-engineered hyper-demand, rather than a lack of supply.

Jeffrey Hawkins - I advocate self reliance, using technology to support community independence from inefficient current government programs. Micro power, community markets and developing practical home skills will begin to address this issue.

Russell Fitzpatrick - Continue to back in the more than 70 rebates and vouchers available through the Service NSW website. As part of the Perrottet Liberal team we will also provide every household in NSW with $250 off their energy bills from 1 July simply for looking for a better deal that can help unlock further savings of up to $400 off their bills.

Michael Holland - Families and businesses will be entitled to significant rebates on energy costs which constitute a large component of cost of living stress. NSW Labor will stop further privatisation which leads to monopolies and higher costs.

Greg White - The only answer is to provide fast, inexpensive housing. Support all housing initiatives and fight to reduce government interference and red tape.

Cathy Griff - Massive investment in public and affordable homes. Community, cooperative and shared equity housing. 'Meantime use' of vacant buildings; 'pop up' crisis accommodation. Repair public housing locally.

Karin Geiselhart - Solving housing is essential for sustainability, and a growing disgrace. Addressing demand and taxation are key issues. More public housing is urgent in short term.

Jeffrey Hawkins - Government should act to remove the red tape in addressing this critical need, with more efficient resource management.

Russell Fitzpatrick -

The NSW Liberal government currently provides funding to organisations such as Mission Australia and South East Women and Children's Services [SEWACS}, to support women, children and young adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness. I will advocate to see this continue, as well as work with these organisations and others in the Bega electorate to continue looking at how we can combat this issue.

Michael Holland - The homeless need emergency, short-term accommodation which is supported by social services providing help with employment, education, and health. This will be provided initially with more demountable accommodation options at various locations.

Greg White - Fight to reduce government interference and red tape to build tiny homes, shipping container homes, and granny flats. Sustainable crops for hempcrete and bricks.

Cathy Griff - 30% affordable housing in large residential developments. 10% of NSW dwellings must be public and social housing. Cap rents, end unfair evictions. Empty house levy.

Karin Geiselhart - Integrate a minimum 10% public/affordable social housing into new significant residential developments via inclusionary zoning, increase investment in public housing and strengthen renters rights.

Jeffrey Hawkins - I volunteer in a collaboration effort to privately address affordable housing availability, with current projects expected to be announced later this year. This is not dependent on government, this is an ongoing community effort.

Russell Fitzpatrick - Support the NSW Liberal Government's $2.8 billion Housing Package which is about laying the foundation for affordable and accessible homes for people across NSW, now and into the future. It will unlock the delivery of 400,000 additional new homes throughout the state.

Michael Holland - The South Coast Build to Rent scheme will provide $30 million over 3 years to construct accommodation built by Landcom on surplus government land. This will provide 30% social and affordable housing options.

Greg White - Legalising cannabis has unlimited potential to boost local economies. Increased economic power can attract the best teachers and support educational related infrastructure.

Cathy Griff - Minimum 15% pay raise for public school teachers. Recruit 12,000 new teachers over next decade. Address maintenance backlog. Additional school councillors. Restore free, well-resourced TAFE

Karin Geiselhart - Our underfunded education system makes standards and staffing difficult. We support policies that provide equitable and affordable education, valued for both achievement and enrichment

Jeffrey Hawkins - For teachers to be effective, they should be teachers, focused on the learning needs of children, rather than being burdened with administrative reporting & implementing non-educational policies. Parents need to become more involved in the education of their children, a collaboration to promote the best of learning.

Russell Fitzpatrick - Give our students the best educational foundation with a full year of free preschool for all students in the year before school by 2030. Over the next four years, we will be building 500 new preschools on public school sites across the state, creating 50,000 new places. A guaranteed 6% pay rise for teachers over the next two years, and a $100 million commitment to pay excellent teachers salaries of up to $152,000.

Michael Holland - 10,000 casual teaching positions will become full time. Administration hours will be reduced by 5 hours per week. Pay negotiations will commence with the Teachers' Federation. A literacy and numeracy tutoring program will be established.

Greg White - Unable to respond in depth as the party will not form state government. However, we will fight for this electorate and its needs

Cathy Griff - Honour the promise to take back nominated roads, which councils cannot afford to maintain (such as Tathra Bermagui Road with its timber bridges).

Karin Geiselhart - We have regional and transport policies that would ensure adequate maintenance of our roads that can include local control. Plus greater funding for public transport.

Jeffrey Hawkins - All roads are the responsibility of the state, not local councils. Refer to the Parliamentary Education Office definitions of Areas of Responsibility.

Russell Fitzpatrick - The NSW Liberal government has already been working to right that wrong and have already implemented the first 32 of 37 recommendations from the independent panel that oversaw the Regional Road Transfer and Road Classification Review priority round. I will be a strong advocate to make sure the remaining recommendations are implemented.

Michael Holland - NSW Labor will provide a new two year $670 million emergency road repair fund which will fix the roads which the NSW Liberal Nationals government has refused to re-allocate.

Greg White - Legalising cannabis has potential to create an economic boom for the region. Sustainable farming, processing plants, manufacturing, sales, and tourism will bring increased business and dollars

Cathy Griff - Cease cost-shifting for services. Include maintenance with infrastructure grants. Abandon rate capping. Rapid transition to renewable energy and EVs. Rate Forestry Corp for road use.

Karin Geiselhart - Sustainable Australia Party supports a fair distribution of funding to councils and regions, by supporting local industries and employment and exposing and limiting cost-shifting.

Jeffrey Hawkins - An independent audit of assumed responsibilities, and financial accountability for services within and without the councils Areas of Responsibility will be a necessary first step.

Russell Fitzpatrick - I will continue to be a strong advocate calling on the federal Labor government to restore Financial Assistance Grants to 1%. The rate peg methodology is also under review which once completed will also offer additional ways to help reduce any financial burden on our local councils.

Michael Holland - Labor will monitor the existing local government rating system and where appropriate, implement changes that are equitable for all residents and ratepayers. Rate pegging, particularly the pegging of residential rates will be maintained. Special variations for individual councils will be considered.

Greg White - The economic benefits of cannabis include attracting business and therefore quality professionals. Innovative, sustainable farming is lucrative. We lure GPs with our booming, beautiful region.

Cathy Griff - Remove barriers preventing junior doctors choosing general practice. Underwrite the pay gap and leave entitlements for GP registrars, as done in Victoria. Rural medical faculty.

Karin Geiselhart - This has to be addressed in tandem with the housing crisis, incentives to work in regional areas, and our policy reforms on dental care, prevention and education.

Jeffrey Hawkins - Identify the reasons for GPs to consider regional appointment, and collaborate with other local health professionals to support industry focused incentives. Obtain community support to address the non-professional needs for potential GPs to consider.

Russell Fitzpatrick - As part of a Perrottet Liberal government I will back the current commitment to expanding the GP single-employed model and call on the federal Labor government to work with the state government to support a full expansion of this model across NSW.

Michael Holland - I will work with local doctors as well as state, and federal health ministries to look at different models of care including different funding models, multidisciplinary care, procedural general practice in hospitals, and nursing scope of practice.

Early voting centres open on Saturday, March 18, with pre-polling available until Friday, March 24.

Click here for more details on where to vote and essential info about the Bega electorate