PEOPLE FIRST
Politics too often puts systems (read: red tape), ideologies and bureaucracy ahead of the people they are meant to serve. I believe that is backwards.

“People First” means government exists to serve ordinary Australians — not political parties, not lobbyists, and not abstract policy frameworks that look good on paper but fail in the real world. Every decision should start with a simple question: does this improve the lives of real people in real communities?

I have always believed that strong societies are built from the bottom up. Families, workers, small businesses, farmers, retirees and volunteers are the foundation of Australia — not distant bureaucracies or ideological agendas.

When policy ignores lived experience, it creates unintended harm, particularly in regional and rural communities where one-size-fits-all solutions rarely work.

Putting people first means:
- Listening to those who are directly affected by decisions
- Respecting personal responsibility and freedom
- Valuing local knowledge over remote control
- Protecting Australians from being sacrificed to political or corporate interests

A healthy nation is not measured by how many rules it creates, but by how well it allows people to live, work, raise families and build their futures with dignity and security.

That is what “People First” means to me.

AUSTRALIA Love it or leave it!
Australia is one of the best countries in the world because of the values, freedoms and social cohesion that generations of Australians have built and defended. Those things should never be taken for granted.

“Australia First” is not about hostility or exclusion — it is about loyalty, responsibility and respect. It means that when governments make decisions, they should put the interests of Australian citizens, Australian workers and Australian communities ahead of foreign governments, multinational corporations and international pressure groups.

A country that does not prioritise its own people eventually loses control of its future.

Living in Australia comes with enormous opportunity: freedom of speech, the rule of law, equality before the law, religious freedom, and a fair go for everyone. These are not automatic — they exist because Australians expect them to be protected. With those rights also comes a duty to respect the country, its laws and its way of life.

“Love it or leave it” is a statement of principle:
- If you enjoy the freedoms Australia offers, you should also respect what makes Australia work
- Our laws apply equally to everyone
- Our culture, values and institutions deserve protection
- Loyalty to Australia should come before loyalty to any foreign ideology or interest

A strong, united nation is built on shared values, mutual respect and a clear sense of national identity. Australia should never apologise for wanting to remain Australia.

We can be welcoming, fair and generous — while still being proud, sovereign and in control of our own destiny.

LAW, ORDER AND COMMUNITY SAFETY
A safe community is a free community.
Every Australian should be able to walk, work and live without fear of crime, disorder or intimidation. Rising rates of youth offending, repeat offending and antisocial behaviour undermine public confidence and strain policing resources. Security is not a luxury — it is a basic expectation.

Good law and order policy should focus on:
Proper resourcing for police and frontline services
Swift and certain consequences for crime
Support for victims of crime
Programs that reduce re-offending and strengthen families

When the rule of law is respected and enforced fairly, communities flourish. Safety must be a priority — not an afterthought.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH
Freedom of speech is the foundation of every other freedom.
Without the right to speak openly, question authority and express unpopular views, democracy becomes an illusion. History shows that once speech is restricted, it is never those in power who are silenced — it is ordinary people.

Australia has a proud tradition of plain speaking, debate and disagreement. That is how better ideas emerge, mistakes are exposed, and power is held to account. When governments, bureaucracies or corporations decide which opinions are “acceptable,” society stops being free.

I believe strongly that:
- People must be allowed to voice their views without fear of punishment
- Political and social debate must remain open
- Truth is not determined by censorship or algorithms
- Offence is not the same thing as harm
- A healthy society does not need speech police. It needs strong ideas, robust debate and confident citizens.
Free speech also protects minorities, whistle-blowers and reformers — because it is often uncomfortable ideas that lead to progress. Once speech is controlled, the only voices left are those approved by those in charge.

If Australians are to remain free, they must be free to speak.

OVER GOVERNERED
Australians are among the most regulated people in the world — and it is costing us time, money and freedom.

Over-government happens when layers of rules, approvals, reporting and compliance grow faster than common sense. What starts as “good intentions” turns into a maze of bureaucracy that makes it harder to run a business, build a home, farm the land, or even deal with government itself.

The late Kerry Packer once captured the problem perfectly when he said that if the government wants to make a new law, it should repeal one first.
That simple idea reflects a powerful truth: regulation should never grow without limit. Every new rule adds cost, complexity and delay — and too often no one ever goes back to remove the ones that no longer make sense.

Every extra form, permit and regulation carries a cost. Those costs do not disappear — they are passed on through higher prices, slower development, and fewer opportunities, especially in regional areas where small operators do not have teams of lawyers and consultants to navigate the system.

Good government should be:
- Simple
- Efficient
- Accountable
- Transparent
- Focused on outcomes, not paperwork

When government becomes too large and too intrusive, it stops serving the people and starts controlling them. That undermines initiative, productivity and trust.
Reducing over-government is not about chaos — it is about restoring balance so Australians can get on with their lives without being buried under unnecessary rules. A strong country is one where people are free to work, build and contribute without constantly asking permission.

IMIGRATION
Australia is a nation built by migrants — including my own family.

My wife is an immigrant, and like millions of others who came here the right way, she contributes, works hard, respects Australia and has built a life here. That experience is why I believe deeply in fair, lawful and balanced immigration — not open borders, and not demonisation.

Good immigration strengthens a country. Bad immigration policy weakens it.

Australia succeeds when we welcome people who want to become Australians — who respect our laws, our culture, and our way of life, and who are willing to contribute. What does not work is uncontrolled or poorly managed migration that overwhelms housing, infrastructure, wages, schools and healthcare. Immigration policy must serve Australia, not ideology.

That means:
Immigration levels that match our housing, infrastructure and job capacity
Strong border control and enforcement of the law
Fairness to those who follow the rules
Integration into Australian society, not separation from it

A successful nation depends on shared values, mutual respect and loyalty to Australia first. We can be welcoming without losing control. We can be compassionate without being reckless.
Immigration should build Australia — not divide it or strain it.

SMALL BUSINESS AND LOCAL JOBS
Small business is the engine room of the economy. It employs people, sustains towns and circulates wealth where it is needed most.

Yet too many policies treat small business as a problem to be managed instead of a partner to be supported. Excessive red tape, compliance costs and distorted markets disadvantage local operators and make it harder to create jobs, especially in regional Australia.

We should be focused on:
- Cutting unnecessary regulation
- Lowering barriers to entry for entrepreneurs
- Supporting local procurement and enterprise
- Ensuring small business keeps more of what it earns

When small business succeeds, communities do too.