You can view our question list for all candidates here.
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Independent candidate for Higgins, David Fawcett, responded :
Hello there!
I’d be happy to help out and provide my views on your questions.
What are your thoughts on asylum seekers?
Refugees deserve to be treated with common human decency, they also deserve to have their case heard fairly, justly and in a timely manner.
However illegal immigrants are displaying a disregard for our laws and sovereignty and they should be turned away.
What are your thoughts on public transport?
We vastly need to increase development of public transport infrastructure.
What are your thoughts on renewable energy?
I have many thoughts on alternative energy and in my opinion the most promising emergent technology is using algae to consume carbon from coal power plants and produce ethanol and clean water. I will fund investment into alternative energy by reducing government subsidies on fossil fuels. Balancing the market in this way means renewable energy is more competitive and most importantly will not require ongoing subsidies to be feasible.
Do you support or oppose the introduction of the R18+ rating classification for video games?
Absolutely, although I would rather fix the primary issues with the classification system as it stands. The issue being that unrated material is banned from distribution. This changes it from a classification system to a system of censorship. Australians should be able to make their own choices when it comes to media and literature with the best information available, when did we start thinking it was a good idea to let the government make those choices for us?
Do you support or oppose the proposed internet filter?
Strongly oppose. Aside from the fact that it won’t achieve any of the aims that it set out, again we don’t need a committee deciding what we should or shouldn’t be looking at online.
It won’t protect children, it won’t stop child pornography. It will be abused by the government and further censor speech in this nation.
Do you support or oppose gay marriage?
Support whole heartedly – however it is just a symptom of a greater issue. My campaign on Gay Rights is about building bridges between the Gay and Lesbian community and moderate Christians. I’m speaking to several Christian groups and making a video for the ACL website on this topic.
I am happy to report that there is significant resistance from a minority of people in Higgins, however the campaign has been very well received by the majority of people I talk to.
My website demonstrates how Gay Rights is perfectly in line with Christian values: http://www.davidfawcett.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=55
That page also explains the fundamental misunderstanding when discussing this issue and that is the fact that political correctness has redefined the word ‘tolerance’.
What are your thoughts on abortion?
I am pro-choice. It’s a deeply personal issue and I don’t think I or the government is qualified to make that choice for others.
Do you support or oppose the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia?
Implementing such a law is extraordinarily problematic. There would need to be timely and reasonable oversight as well as protections for doctors and nurses who have moral objections to euthanasia.
Believe it or not, that alone is actually a good reason not to implement a law on euthanasia. The hard fact is at the moment it happens under the table and it’s just between the patient and their doctor or nurse. Our society deliberately turns a blind eye and these cases aren’t investigated.
People pushing for legalised euthanasia need to understand that with those laws come more oversight and more government interference. If implemented poorly it could result in all suspected cases of euthanasia being investigated and having doctors and nurses jailed for failing to fill out the right forms, or gain approvals from the right committee.
Decriminalising it is probably a better option.
What are your thoughts on stem cell research?
Government shouldn’t interfere with scientific development. We have ethics boards and heated debate in the scientific community about what is ethical and what is not.
Not only do politicians rarely understand the issues being discussed they aren’t unbiased. They easily bend to the fickle will of public opinion.
Frankly if people really think that doctors and medical scientists aren’t ethical and need government oversight then they should have much bigger concerns that stem cells.
What are your thoughts on education?
Education is the most powerful force for the development of Australia. It’s only through education about the issues that I am able to win hearts and minds, it’s only through education that Australia can progress.
I am very passionate about education and when I think about education I don’t just think about schools and universities.
What are your thoughts on campaign finance disclosure?
More transparency is absolutely needed.
What are your thoughts on climate change?
I have considerable opinions on climate change and you can read about them in detail here: http://www.davidfawcett.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=54
What are your thoughts on water?
We can capture carbon, produce ethanol and produce water simply by growing algae. It’s a triple win: capture carbon, cleaner air and cheap clean water a a byproduct.
It is this sort of amazing innovation that will allow Australia to not only combat climate change and drought but also profit from it.
Do you support or oppose standing order 50?
Oppose but I’m not up in arms about it. I just think it’s going to sound particularly disingenuous when a non-Christian become president.
Are there any local issues you are trying to highlight with your campaign?
Video 000 being the big one. I came up with that policy after the incumbent in my electorate promised 10 CCTV and failed to deliver.
http://www.davidfawcett.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=53
What do you think about the media’s coverage of the election so far?
It’s about on par with ever other election I’ve ever seen. The major parties collude and agree not to discuss anything really controversial (eg: gay rights, continuing failure of government to act on climate change for the last 10 years) and the media lets them get away with it.
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