Tina MacFarlane
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COUNTRY LIBERALS
Age: -
Hometown: Mataranka
What will you do for Katherine, and the region if elected?
I stand for the people of Katherine and the people in rural and regional areas of the Northern Territory.
I am committed to fighting for them on the issues that matter to the hard working people that live in these areas and who have been neglected by governments for too long.
I am committed to repealing the carbon tax to help relieve electricity prices.
Building a stronger relationship between the territory and Federal government.
Building and improving existing infrastructure in partnership with the territory government to develop the regions and increase economic activity.
Making sure the ever increasing costs of maintaining roads will not be dumped on local government.
Getting rid of the road blocks to development and doing something about it to stimulate economic activities in these areas.
Cutting red tape and strengthening small business.
Diversifying our pastoral industry.
And of course I want to ensure the Coalition works hard with the Indonesian government to increase export numbers and relax the weight caps on our live cattle trade, an industry Labor decimated overnight, causing uncertainty not only for producers but through flow on effects damaging businesses, livelihoods and causing a huge loss of jobs.
What are your key policies?
Policies important to me are those that create lower taxes and a stronger economy, secure borders, a lower cost of living and addressing indigenous disadvantage.
I know families are feeling the higher cost of living and people on the land and in small business are unsure of their future.
If I am lucky enough to be elected to Canberra, electors will always know that I speak for Territorians and what matters to them.
How do you plan to create opportunities for economic development in Katherine and the region?
The Coalition’s plan for the overall economy is to get the budget back under control: pay back debt, lower taxes, cut red and green tape and help small business create jobs.
It is important to reduce debt so that instead of paying millions every day in interest and repayments, that money can be redirected to building infrastructure, hospitals and other government programs.
Ridding us of this huge debt will directly and indirectly help local economies like Katherine.
Working with Katherine business leaders like the Chamber of Commerce on any business opportunities, supporting the live cattle industry and ensuring that the RAAF remains an important Defence installation in our area are also important.
I look forward to working with NT Senator Nigel Scullion who will be Indigenous Affairs Minister, if we win Government, on pushing for more indigenous economic development.
What is your stance on the live cattle export industry?
I am a cattle station owner and totally support this industry.
It has always been a vital contributor to the Northern Territory economy.
I have seen and felt the pain of the cattle ban caused by the inept Federal Labor Government on 7 June, 2011.
I remember that day well, as do many others.
It was a decision that crippled a great industry and many other businesses who serviced cattle properties.