A strong, local economy

Tackling the Cost of Living Crisis

Territory families are being squeezed at every turn - groceries, fuel, insurance, housing and flights, while supermarkets, airlines and energy companies make record profits. I'll fight to break the grip of corporations ripping us off and make sure the basics are affordable for Territorians.

We need a local voice, without the interstate deal-making. As your representative, I'll focus on:

Relief for households and businesses

Increase immediate relief for power bills for struggling households and local businesses
Update the Remote Area Allowance to help us with higher costs in the North - it's currently $9 a week and hasn't been indexed or increased for 25 years!
Cooperating for smart long-term economic planning, giving families, businesses and investors confidence
Raise the Rate of important safety-net payments for Territorians including JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment and AbStudy.
- Here's why:
  - As of March 2025, the JobSeeker Payment, including the Energy Supplement, amounts to approximately $395 per week, or about $56 per day.
  - That's not enough. ACOSS and independent economists have recommended increasing this to $82 per day, to lift recipients above the poverty line. Fewer Territorians living in poverty, helping people get back on their feet, benefits us all.

Boosting local business, increasing competition and breaking duopolies

Keep NT wealth in NT hands – forget fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) projects and support local businesses to grow, employ and profit.
Capitalise on our natural strengths for sustainable profits and jobs, like tourism, fishing, higher education, cultural experiences
Hold the government accountable for implementing the 20 recommendations of the Supermarkets inquiry
Push for real penalties for price gouging and misleading practices by supermarkets and energy providers.
Work with airlines and the tourism industry to increase flight options and competition, reducing costs.
Challenge corporations that charge Territorians more than they charge people in other parts of Australia.

Energy Security and Affordability

Get our existing solar farms fully connected to the grid and fund the NT to modernise our power infrastructure to increase battery storage capacity
Review subsidies for fuel and power - incentivising innovation and efficiency rather than propping up obsolete and expensive power sources with taxpayers' money

Housing Affordability

Housing affordability is linked to all other social and economic issues. There is a national housing crisis, and we have a unique set of challenges right here in Palmerston and Darwin. I commit to working on:

Support and scrutinise the delivery of NT housing projects to ensure timely new housing supply - including the necessary ratio of social and affordable housing - and transparent investment of public money.
Seek targeted federal assistance to renters, owners and investors to make homes climate-proof, keeping us safe and lowering energy costs
Ensure safe housing for all children so they can be healthy, get to school, and stay out of harm's way
Fast-track social and affordable housing projects to tackle homelessness and rental stress
Support our local construction industry with practical investments including training and climate-appropriate design solutions
Reviewing tax settings that disadvantage new home buyers, with a view to phasing out capital gains tax discounts and negative gearing (estimated by the Parliamentary Budget Office to save up to $60 billion over a decade)
Work with the new CDU TAFE trade training centre to support for our next generation of NT tradespeople.

A diverse local economy

Grow stable local jobs, not just FIFO positions that leave when projects end
Bring small and medium business owners to the decision-making table - they are sick and tired of being pushed out by big business.
Re-allocate the $1.5 billion earmarked for the unviable petrochemical development at Middle Arm for infrastructure that local businesses and services actually need
Support local businesses through fair tax rates and incentives, accessible grants, and reliable access to skilled workers and affordable housing
Invest in renewable energy and storage to cut power prices and stabilise the Darwin/Palmerston grid
Keep NT wealth in the NT by preferencing local businesses for government contracts
Restore Darwin's position as Australia's gateway to Asia with better international connections

Tax Reform

Fix the remote area allowance so it meets the reality of increased costs of living in the North.
Support other cross-bench Independents' push to properly review our outdated, unfair tax system where working Australians and small businesses carry the bulk of the tax burden while the most profitable corporations contribute too little
Advocate for the unique circumstances of the Territory to ensure we receive the federal support needed to enjoy the same standards of living as other Australians