I have always had a social conscience, and have always taken a stand for the "under dog". I have always believed firmly in human
rights, and defending those who cannot defend themselves, but was never sure about joining politics. When What Women Want approached me about standing in the Wakefield Electorate, I contacted the founder, Justine Caines and asked her where her party stood on social issues, her response convinced me that this was the direction I wanted to go in.

2.  What do you think are the issues that matter to young people?
From chatting with young people, they are concerned about global warming, the cost of university degrees, unemployment, the water crisis, and of course war; and also where Australia is heading.

3.  How do you plan to address these issues?
By engaging young people as being intelligent enough to understand what is going on in Australian politics and being able to contribute to discussions and policy making concerning national and global issues.

4.  How do you engage with young people to find out what issues matter to them?
Being a student at TAFE, I get the opportunity talk with young people, and I really enjoy the chats about their lives and family. A lot of them have spoken about their disappointment in the way young people are portrayed in the media as binge drinkers and hoons.

5.  What did you care about when you were a young voter?
When I first started voting things where a lot different, we weren’t facing global warming, a water crisis, or war. Drugs and alcohol were around and we faced the same choices as young people do today in regards to this. Young people in my time were not given a second thought, the government didn’t really think our vote was vital, not like today, where every vote is crucial. The main thing I cared about when I was a young voter was finding a job that paid ok and I never questioned my taxes paying for those who were disadvantaged, I was glad that I could help in some way.

6.  What is your opinion of young people in Australia?
In my opinion, young people are our nation’s future. They are becoming politically, environmentally and globally aware, which is fantastic. If the current governments abandon one young person, they are abandoning them all.

7.  How do you think our political system can better engage with younger voters?
To start realising that young people are not just a vote, that young people are the future of this planet. I am bringing my daughter up to be environmentally and politically aware.

8.  What are the key long-term challenges facing Australia?
The key issues that I believe are global warming, the water crisis, war and social equality.

9.  If you could change one thing about Australia what would it be?
The current Government.

10. Describe a time when your political opinion was challenged or changed.
That time is now. For the first time in my voting life, I will not be voting as I have done for years.

11. What’s your favourite thing about your electorate?
I love the people, I have talked with many people young and old in my electorate and they are very friendly and care about what is happening in Australia. When I drove up the Salisbury Highway, it reminded me of travelling home.

12.  What do you do to relax?
I am an Artist, so I love to sketch and doodle, and I love spending time with my seven year old because she keeps my views focused on the young, and also chatting with friends.