Having been endorsed as your local Candidate for the 2016 Federal election, I thought it time to contact all of you - to firstly thank those who have given me their support so far and to tell you about myself. 

Most of my working life has been devoted to public service in one form or another. I enlisted in the RAAF at the age of 19 and I completed that career as a Group Captain. My last appointment was with the Air Command Headquarters as Director of Information Warfare - responsible for intelligence and security and a host of other related functions. I have served Australia overseas in multiple operations, firstly in Vietnam as a young man and later in various Command positions.

I hold degrees in Economics, Business and Defence Studies and am a Graduate of the Australian Defence College. I am also a member of NSW Labor’s Economics Policy Committee.

I am presently employed with the Australian Bureau of Statistics and live in Chatswood with my wife and teenage son. As well as my work with Labor’s Lane Cove Branch, I am Secretary of our Federal Electorate Council.

I have directly supported my community as President of Chatswood High P&C for the past two years and have been an active member of the Chatswood West Ward Progress Association. I also work locally to assist fellow war veterans and other retired military personnel.

I am aware of the overcrowding in a number of schools in the North Sydney electorate and am a strong supporter of allocating resources fairly and adequately to our schools. I am deeply concerned about the underfunding of our hospital system, in particular the Royal North Shore Hospital and aged care facilities. I am resolutely opposed to any attempt to diminish Medicare benefits.

I am also strongly opposed to the sale or leasing of harbour foreshore and other public land and facilities and am concerned about proposed changes in the use of the Gore Bay terminal facilities which may pose risks to our community.

Marriage equality is another issue of concern to me. I support our policy to introduce, in the first 100 days of government, legislation to legalise same sex marriage.

Our tax system needs reform – the Labor way, not involving the Coalition’s subsidies to the wealthy. I therefore support changes to negative gearing and capital gains – as announced recently by Bill Shorten.

Other national and international matters that need serious rebalancing include our relationship with China, refugees, NBN, climate change and closing the gap on indigenous disadvantage.

There are many others. As your elected federal representative, I will ensure no one is left behind in the pursuit of a better life.

I cannot do this alone and know there are many of you are keen to assist with this challenge. If you have any time to help with the Campaign, please email me at [email protected].