Final pitch: Every McMahon election candidate in their own words

My name is Melissa Janicska, born at Parramatta Hospital, NSW. I come from a good family, my parents bringing me up with ‘Old school’ Australian morals and values.

My mother was a stay-at-home mum, dutifully attending to household, family issues and her country western music performances.

My father worked for E.S.S.O in Victoria, when I was young, moving onto M.S.S. Security as the NSW State Manager. I was lucky enough to have visited a great many international destinations, largely due to my father’s work.

As a young mother, I faced domestic violence but made it through and became a stronger person at the end. I was also a keen helper with school activities including the breakfast club, sausage sizzles and Christmas-time events etc. as my children attended primary school. At this time, I also volunteered with a church run charity food shop.

If I am elected for the seat of McMahon representing the One Nation Party, my initial goals are 1/ to serve the Australian people, 2/ to stand up for what is right with integrity and bring real solutions to Australian citizens focusing on housing, cost-of-living issues, immigration, tackling the budget including overspending, duplication matters and unnecessary grants given out for projects etc., that do not directly benefit the people of Australia and to voice our policies.

I love our sunburnt country and want to help Australians retain their country, their freedom, freedom of speech and choice, way of life, industry and job security. The great Aussie dream of owning your own home, raising your family with love, good morals, motives and respect, a good education and a sense for community/social involvement.

I’m a local community activist with a strong track record of advocacy and local leadership, and it would be an honour to continue this work in our federal parliament. It’s clear to me that Labor has not delivered for western Sydney. Only a Liberal Government can get McMahon and Australia back on track.

I’ll work hard for our community in Canberra, as a strong, compassionate and culturally aware federal representative.
Cost of living is a huge burden for local families. Our living standards have been squashed by Labor.

The Liberal team will lower inflation and get our economy back in shape. Housing needs to be affordable again for the average worker.

We’ve got a fantastic scheme to make interest payments tax deductible for first time buyers up to $650,000. We also need quality healthcare. Bulk Billing rates have dropped locally.

The Liberal team will invest $10 billion to boost primary healthcare and enhance GP access. We’ve got to improve our local infrastructure, specifically transport, and Liberal governments have a strong track record of delivery.

We got the ball rolling for both our new Western Sydney Airport and the popular Sydney Metro rapid transit system. Creating more opportunities for our younger residents is vital, and Peter Dutton’s plan to invest $260 million to deliver 12 Australian Technical Colleges is going to be important to equip our next generation with specialist skills.

We’ve got to have the appropriate mental health services in McMahon and I’m proud that the Liberal team will restore the number of Medicare-subsidised mental health sessions from 10 to 20.

I’m Chris Bowen, the Federal member for McMahon.

I grew up in our community and still live here with my wife and kids. McMahon is my home, and I know what makes our community special.

I also know how to make it stronger. That’s why we’ve worked hard over the last years to deliver for our community. We have delivered better health care with our Urgent Care Clinics in Penrith and Rooty Hill as well as Blacktown Medicare Mental Health Clinic.

I’ve secured road upgrades like the Mamre Road Stage 2 upgrade and we’re delivering education improvements with big investments in TAFE, and making it easier to study with 20% off HECS.

My commitment to you is I am local enough to listen, strong enough to deliver.

Every election season, politicians from all sides use columns like this to tell you what they think you want to hear. They never deliver what they promise and only stand for what the last poll told them to. It’s because major party politicians don’t really care about us, they only care about climbing the political ladder in Canberra.

Both the major parties have lost their way, Labor doesn’t care and the Liberals don’t understand. If we vote for the same, we will get more of the same. I believe we can do better.
That’s why I am running for McMahon, because it is my home – it is where I grew up, started my business and family but I have constantly seen just how badly we are being let down by those who are supposed to serve us.

Our community is in crisis. People can’t put a roof over their heads, families are struggling to put food on the table or pay their power bills and people most in need of it are struggling to get bulk billed medical care. I can’t remember a time where so many were struggling and we all see it and know that something is deeply wrong.

If elected I will fight everyday for our community. I will be an advocate for upgrades to our hospitals, I will push for permanent cuts to excise taxes to put more money back in the pockets of Aussie families and I will push to grow Australia’s housing supply as the only way we can expect young Australians to buy into the future of our country is by having a stake in it.

I am determined to give you a voice and shake things up. We can do this. We can restore Australia.

Ben Hammond did not respond to requests for his final pitch. The below is from the Greens’ website.

Growing up in Doonside, I’ve seen firsthand the struggles our community faces – from the rising cost of living to housing insecurity and underfunded public services.

I’m standing as the Greens Candidate for McMahon because the major parties have taken us for granted, and I have the experience and qualifications to be an effective advocate for our community.

Housing is a human right, not a privilege. While Labor and Liberal accept millions from wealthy donors and corporate interests, the Greens NSW refuse to be bought.

I will put people before profits, working alongside our community to deliver real solutions – like rent controls, affordable housing, and investment in public infrastructure that benefits everyone.

I am a proud Union member, and I will stand against the Liberals’ relentless attacks on penalty rates and workers’ rights.

Labor has failed people with disabilities by gutting the NDIS.

I will fight to restore and expand it, ensuring people get the support they deserve.

The Greens believe education should empower, not burden. That’s why we will erase student debt, make TAFE and university free, and reinvest in our public schools.

We will also restore incentives for GPs to Bulk Bill, while strengthening and expanding Medicare to include dental and mental health.