Final pitch: Every Macquarie election candidate in their own words

My name is Matthew, and I’m running for Parliament in Macquarie because I believe Australia must do better in protecting life, liberty, and the most vulnerable among us.
I am standing for the protection of life for all Australians – regardless of their background, race, or faith. I believe in showing compassion and care, and my focus is on supporting those who need it most, particularly the unborn and women in crisis.

Each year, countless unborn children lose their lives to abortion – not always because their mothers chose freely, but often because they felt pressured, unsupported, or coerced by abusive partners or a lack of real options. Where was their help? Where was their hope?

Both our state and federal Labor representatives are openly pro-abortion and have proudly signed onto Emily’s List – a political network that champions abortion access. The Liberals say little, unwilling to take a clear stand. But I will not stay silent. I believe the people of Macquarie deserve a representative who speaks openly and courageously for life.
Abortion laws in Australia now allow termination up to birth.

The Labor/Greens want to criminalise people of faith – doctors, nurses, and institutions – who refuse to participate. This is not about choice anymore. It’s about coercion and control.

Here in Macquarie, I will fight to restore respect for life and belief. I will advocate for women in crisis, and for babies who survive abortion attempts – born alive but left to suffer without pain relief, without care, without access to the antidote that could save them. Some live for hours. This is not healthcare. It’s inhumane.

John 3:16 reminds us every life matters. That belief is the heart of my campaign.

This election, I ask for your vote — not just for me, but for those who have no voice, for the most vulnerable in our society, and for the future we all deserve.

Residents in Emu Heights, Emu Plains and Leonay and throughout the electorate of Macquarie will face a clear choice on Saturday.

This Federal Election is about who can better manage our economy, reduce our cost of living, and keep us safe in an uncertain world.

We need experience to lead Australia and get our wonderful country back on track, and only Peter Dutton has this experience.

A Dutton Liberal Government can only be secured by voting number one for me as the Liberal candidate for Macquarie and then following my how to vote card.

Communities in the Macquarie electorate simply cannot afford another three years of Anthony Albanese and Susan Templeman.

Our living standards would continue to plunge if Labor is returned to government in Canberra.

Mums and dads are doing it tough like never before with a family holding a typical mortgage being $50,000 worse off under Labor. Small businesses – the lifeblood of our economy – are being crushed with insolvencies at a record high.

But there is hope.

The Liberal team will deliver low inflation, cheaper energy, affordable housing, safer communities and better healthcare.

We’ll back our entrepreneurs by giving small businesses a permanent $30,000 instant asset write-off to help them grow.

Our struggling cafes, restaurants, and pubs will be given a much-needed shot in the arm through our plan to offer tax relief for business-related meal expenses.

We’ll ease the burden on our motorists by cutting fuel excise by 50 per cent for 12 months and rescinding Labor’s damaging and unfair car and ute tax.

There is a better way to get our country back on track, with the Liberal team offering a clear choice for Australians to get ahead.

I’m Joaquim De Lima, the Libertarian Party candidate for Macquarie in the 2025 Federal Election, marking my 10th run. Born in Brazil, I arrived in Australia at six, my parents – software engineer –modelling self-sufficiency. Their example shapes my support for Libertarian policies: restricting welfare to citizens, overhauling immigration with an auction system, and requiring new arrivals to contribute significantly.

Growing up across Sydney – from Bondi to Epping – I attended diverse schools, fueling my push to abolish the Federal Department of Education and introduce school vouchers for parental choice. Since 2010, I’ve lived in the Blue Mountains with my wife and three home-birthed, homeschooled children. Government restrictions on homebirth midwives and raw milk strengthened my resolve to scale back regulatory agencies.

My passion for free speech, privacy, and sovereignty grew in 2001, leading me to join the Libertarian Party by 2008. I documented Occupy Sydney in 2011, witnessing its suppression, which solidified my support for enshrining free speech in the Constitution, repealing misinformation laws, and abolishing the eSafety Commissioner. During COVID, as a remote IT worker for NSW Health, I faced vaccine mandates, losing my job after documenting policy breaches. This drives my advocacy for medical freedom.

As a sole provider, I back raising the tax-free threshold to $50,000 ($100,000 for couples), a flat 10 per cent tax, scrapping the petrol tax, and voluntary superannuation. I’m no career politician – just an IT professional living Libertarian values, from homeschooling to resisting overreach.
Support my campaign to bring liberty to Macquarie.

Terry Morgan did respond to requests for his final pitch. Below is an edited profile from his party’s website.

I’m contesting the seat of Macquarie for The Greens because I believe we have a historic opportunity at this election to ensure a decent future for the next generation and beyond.
This means tackling climate change, providing affordable housing, and reducing inequality by making education and healthcare free and accessible for everyone.

This includes bringing dental and mental health into Medicare so that no-one is denied these essential services.

Neither of the major parties will implement these essential changes by themselves, but with expectations of a hung parliament, an increased Greens presence in both houses can make these things happen.

During a long teaching career, mainly in remote and low socio-economic communities, I developed a passion for helping disadvantaged kids to realise their potential, and for pushing against the prejudice and privilege that denies them a level playing field. I am outraged that elite private schools receive a disproportionate share of government funding, building state-of-the-art theatres and swimming pools while public school students contend with overcrowded classrooms and substandard facilities.

A father of three, and now a grandfather, I am frankly terrified at the world that awaits my own loved ones, and all children and young people, unless the next government takes drastic action.

One reason I joined The Greens is because they’re the only party that does not accept donations from corporations. Big business doesn’t give money to political parties without expecting something in return.

I believe there is something deeply wrong when a nurse or a teacher pays more tax than a giant corporation.

My priorities include: real climate action, with no more approvals for new fossil fuel projects; accelerating the shift to renewable energy while ensuring a just transition for workers in the dying fossil fuel industries; an end to the logging of native forests, and better laws to protect our natural environment; building sufficient public and social housing to end the growing curse of homelessness; and increased government investment in cheap, efficient public transport – powered by renewables.

If elected as the next Member for Macquarie, I will pursue these goals relentlessly in the community and in the parliament.

Vote 1 The Greens, for real change.

It’s been a privilege to be let into the lives of Emu Plains, Emu Heights and Leonay residents over the past few months.

As a Winmalee small business owner of 35 years, your area has been part of my family’s life thanks to swimming lessons, soccer matches and shopping at Lennox. I now have a deeper understanding of the important economic base it provides for the region and the strong community values that tie multi-generations to the area.

I’ve been an outspoken advocate for Macquarie for nine years, delivering significant local improvements. My $2.5 million election commitment improvements for Leonay Oval and upgrades to three local playgrounds is, I hope, the delivering for the newest part of the electorate.

This election is a clear choice between Labor’s plan to keep building or Peter Dutton’s promise to cut.

In tough economic times, I’m proud we’ve delivered cost of living relief like cheaper medicines, tax cuts for every worker, energy relief and cheaper childcare. We brought inflation down so that mortgage rates could begin easing. We achieved this turnaround while overseeing the creation of 1 million jobs.

We’ve put nurses back into aged care, started the largest home-building program in Australian history, begun expanding local manufacturing and trained more tradies – with free TAFE places to be permanent under Labor.

We’ll continue to back small businesses with more tax cuts for sole traders, incentives to hire apprentices and the extension of the instant asset write off.

The Penrith Medicare Urgent Care Clinic I opened is delivering faster care and easing the burden on our ED and there’s increased bulk-billing for pensioners, kids and concession card holder thanks to better funding for GPs – we’ll extend that to all ages.

As part of strengthening Medicare, we’ll provide after-hours free telehealth, even cheaper medicines and women will have a new Endometriosis, Pelvic Pain and Menopause Clinic locally.

That’s why I’m asking you to support me on May 3, so I can continue to fight for you.

I fully support and uphold the Family First Party’s Values, Vision and Policies in respect to: Family; Faith; Life; And Freedom.

I will oppose radical anti-family attitudes and policies by adhering to Judaeo-Christian ethics, the foundation stone upon which this great nation was built.

The Marriage Survey of 2017 was for me, the line in the sand not to be crossed.

I will oppose those who seek to undermine the traditional family of; one man + one woman for the good of any children conceived or adopted. I will also support parents to choose to educate those children in Faith based schools whose hiring policies are not dictated to by the Government and meddling bureaucrats.

I will support the closure of children and young adult gender clinics as per the Cass Report in the U.K. Restore the meaning of “woman” in the Sex Discrimination Act and restore the words “male” and “female”, removing the word “gender”.

I uphold the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death, and will help to rebuild an Australia where every mother and baby is supported fully, making abortion unthinkable, and a Nation where every human life is valued and respected as an image of our Creator.

I support Faith based schools, hospitals and charities and will defend freedom of speech, religion and the rights of churches, schools, hospitals and charities to hire staff in accordance with their religious ethos.

By the provision of cheaper energy, brought about by pausing Net Zero, and then using all the available energy sources to reduce power prices, the cost of living will be reduced.

This in turn will assist the vulnerable and socially disadvantaged.