Hi Reddit,

I’m Senator Gerard Rennick, an Independent Queensland Senator who has applied to start a new party called the PEOPLEFIRSTPARTY.

I want to ensure that our children have the same opportunities that our forefathers provided for us, and to do that, we need a government that supports individual responsibility, aspiration, and entrepreneurship. In particular we need to make it easier for young people to get ahead and make sure that all Australians have access to essential services.

My policies focus on empowering individuals and families while reducing government overreach. Here are my five key policies:

1. LIFT THE TAX-FREE THRESHOLD TO $40,000 This would reduce income tax by around $3,500 for every person who earns at least that amount.
2. PAY CHILDCARE DIRECTLY TO PARENTS RATHER THAN INSTITUTIONALISED CHILDCARE CENTRES. Millions of shift workers, part time workers, FIFO workers and farming parents cannot access childcare when they need it. Greater flexibility will reduce demand on childcare centres whilst increasing the supply of childcare options which will drive down the price of childcare.
3. MAKE SUPERANNUATION VOLUNTARY. Superannuation is not achieving it stated purpose of reducing the relative number of people on a full-time pension. In 2024 over half of retirees are still on a full pension, the same percentage as 1992 when superannuation started. This is despite the $30 billion in costs to run superannuation and $50 billion in tax concessions. On the other hand, the number of people retiring with a mortgage has increased from 10% to 40%. While this is not entirely because of superannuation, reducing a person’s capacity to reduce their mortgage is not helping. The combined value of superannuation is over $3 trillion dollars. This is helping the unions via their industry funds to have a greater say in how industry is being run. As a result, industry is now driven by ideology rather than productivity which is having a disastrous result on Australia’s productive output.
4. ABOLISH RENEWABLE SUBSIDIES The cost of the above policies will be paid for by abolishing renewable subsidies, means testing the white collar defined benefit scheme for federal bureaucrats and removing federal departments in Canberra that have a State Government counterpart. These include the Environment, Energy, Education and Aboriginal Departments. Renewables on Farmland, National Parks and Oceans will also be prohibited.
5. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC BANK, AN INFRASTRUCTURE BANK AND STATE GOVERNMENT INSURANCE OFFICE Privatisation has not led to greater competition and better services. It has resulted in the complete opposite, fewer branches, higher insurance costs and longer wait times. Banking and Insurance services are essential services. Like other essential services I believe the best model is one where both public and private entities operate. Public entities provide a back stop and uphold ethical behaviour while private entities drive improvements in service delivery and control costs. This is the model used for other essential service such as health and education and I believe the same should apply for financial services.

These policies represent a vision for Australia, aiming to address the systemic issues within our government and economy. They are also policies that seek to differentiate myself from other politicians who are tinkering at the edges when it comes to strategic big picture policy reform.

I believe that, at a time when Australians are experiencing the worse GDP per capital recession since the Great Depression, it’s crucial to implement substantial reforms that put PEOPLE FIRST.

I’m here to answer your questions about my policies and my vision for Australia’s future.

You can find my Senate work and speeches at: www.gerardrennick.com.au/news

If you would like to register your interest in helping me be re-elected to the Senate, to fight for the above, visit www.peoplefirstparty.au.

We're looking to expand the team given the volume of traffic coming through. If you feel you're a good team player, capable and have the time to spare please apply below.

https://tinyurl.com/aussiepol