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Peter Curtis
Liberal candidate Peter Curtis is running for the Victorian seat of Lalor. The current sitting member for Lalor is Julia Gillard (ALP).
1. When and why
did you decide to become a politician?
I have been interested in politics all my life – beginning with my parents talking about it with me (they were very open and fair in their views, not trying to influence me towards one party). I was intensely interested, however, from about five years of age! (Yeah true.)
2. What do you think are the issues that matter to young people?
Some of the many issues that matter to young people are of course education, climate change, the type of society we are and will be in the future, international relations. And in the case of many young people I know, issues like abortion and other social policy areas. I am not for a moment suggesting there are not thousands of others that also interest young people.
3. How do you plan to address these issues?
I plan to address these issues by providing informed, committed representation if elected to represent the electorate of Lalor.
4. How do you engage with young people to find out what issues matter to them?
I engage with young people in shopping centres, public meeting places, at the football, visiting schools, and in church. We have a large amount of young people in our church and in churches like ours.
5. What did you care about when you were a young voter?
As a young voter (began voting in 1984) the cold war was in its final years and the horrors of communism – massive abuse of human rights and their influence of the far left in Australian politics was a major concern. Obviously the economy, law and order, free speech, and education were also major concerns.
6. What is your opinion of young people in Australia?
I think young people are great. I have seen first hand many young people whose lives have been transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and seen them become very committed to living lives that benefit others – living for far more than themselves. I think generally young people are very honest. I also love the very unique Australian humour that young people exhibit so well – this was harnessed often on foreign battlefields and arose from the most high pressured situations.
7. How do you think our political system can better engage with younger voters?
I do think young people have been exposed to a society which has slipped enormously in standards of morality and also many have been denied a wide exposure to sport & outdoor activities in this era of multi-media and internet etc. This is obviously a very general comment and not applicable to everyone.
8. What are the key long-term challenges facing Australia?
The key long term challenges facing Australia include:
I have been interested in politics all my life – beginning with my parents talking about it with me (they were very open and fair in their views, not trying to influence me towards one party). I was intensely interested, however, from about five years of age! (Yeah true.)
2. What do you think are the issues that matter to young people?
Some of the many issues that matter to young people are of course education, climate change, the type of society we are and will be in the future, international relations. And in the case of many young people I know, issues like abortion and other social policy areas. I am not for a moment suggesting there are not thousands of others that also interest young people.
3. How do you plan to address these issues?
I plan to address these issues by providing informed, committed representation if elected to represent the electorate of Lalor.
4. How do you engage with young people to find out what issues matter to them?
I engage with young people in shopping centres, public meeting places, at the football, visiting schools, and in church. We have a large amount of young people in our church and in churches like ours.
5. What did you care about when you were a young voter?
As a young voter (began voting in 1984) the cold war was in its final years and the horrors of communism – massive abuse of human rights and their influence of the far left in Australian politics was a major concern. Obviously the economy, law and order, free speech, and education were also major concerns.
6. What is your opinion of young people in Australia?
I think young people are great. I have seen first hand many young people whose lives have been transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and seen them become very committed to living lives that benefit others – living for far more than themselves. I think generally young people are very honest. I also love the very unique Australian humour that young people exhibit so well – this was harnessed often on foreign battlefields and arose from the most high pressured situations.
7. How do you think our political system can better engage with younger voters?
I do think young people have been exposed to a society which has slipped enormously in standards of morality and also many have been denied a wide exposure to sport & outdoor activities in this era of multi-media and internet etc. This is obviously a very general comment and not applicable to everyone.
8. What are the key long-term challenges facing Australia?
The key long term challenges facing Australia include:
- Maintaining a strong and smart economy to maintain our standard of living while always having a safety net to care for those in need.
- Protecting civil liberties in an era of astonishing technology advances and potential.
- Staring down terrorism and seeing the spread of democracy in the Middle East.
- Maintaining choice in education.
- Seeing Australia being a beacon of democracy and the rule of law in our region
- Integrating all people who come to our shores into our society and our values of tolerance and equality that are rooted in our Judeo-Christian heritage.
- Seeing the scales of justice being re balanced in favour of the victims of crime
- Maintain our national sovereignty and the sensible independent foreign policy of the Howard government.
