Andrew Stanko's 2002 webpage history section

VOTE 1 Andrew Stanko, Independent

For fairness, justice, people power, and prosperity, in the Legislative Council.

Dear elector,

People have told me that they are sick and tired of the following points:

• The existing political parties, with backstabbing politicians wanting the top job.  Being more loyal to their membership and party leaders, than the local community.
• Politicians and judges unsubstantiated pay increases, big payouts, and access to their superannuation before retirement age.
• Wasted money on non-essential projects, and the exorbitant expenses to launch such projects for invitation-only guests.
• School closures, expensive fees, cuts in dental and hospital services.  Now, after the years of suffering and waiting, both Labor and Liberal are now promising to give back what they took away.  Politicians should be made accountable for their broken promises.
• The lack of beds in nursing homes, and long waiting lists.  With some dying, still waiting for a bed.
• People have told me Labor and Liberal are both the same.  Why should they vote for a yo-yo government?  They both look after their ex-politician mates on healthy incomes, for life.
• People tell me the courts are a joke!  There's no justice, the criminals enjoy a good life.  Remember Ivy Skowronski?  She organised a petition on home invasion and rallied on the steps of Parliament House.  Remember the arrogance of the government, finally they listened to the people.  There should be more support for the victims of crime.
• Forget Labor (remember the State Bank disaster), forget Liberal unless you want more leapfrogging faction fighting, and more ex-politicians receiving big early payouts.
• People tell me pensioners and honestly retired people, old aged persons, suffer the most.  This should not be so.  After all their hard work, the baby boomer politicians have stuffed it up.
• Remember how the police had it tough, seeking a pay rise?  They do an impossible job, with inadequate funding, suffering low morale, locking up the same inadequately dealt with criminals, in a rotten circle.  The judges need re-education.  The local community wants more influence over law and order.
• The nurses in hospitals, working long shifts under pressure, but only earning low wages for their dedication and hard work.
• Schooling, a huge responsibility, but the Education Department lacks understanding of the real situation, reducing funding and cutting back services, the opposite of what needs to be done.
• The need for increased support for families of disabled people, with respite a priority.
• Remember the workers, when companies go into liquidation, or receivership.  They have a bad deal.  Under threat, under pressure, under stress.  A bad health formula.  Employee entitlements should be guaranteed.  All businesses need extra assistance, less government inflicted financial burdens, and compensation for the extra work caused by the GST.

My promise, if elected, is to listen to the people, form community action groups, to take part in the parliamentary system.  To look at the injustices of our society, and take action where needed.

• Stop wasting money on ex-politicians.  Stop all politicians accessing their superannuation until they reach retirement age.  Stop unjustifiable pay rises for politicians and judges.  And set up a community panel to review public servant salaries.
• Stop money draining away from essential services, and set up community investigators to review all government projects.
• A moratorium on poker machines.
• More support for welfare agencies.  Encourage community groups to get together, to discuss issues and form action groups.
• Women's and children's issues must be better addressed.
• Instead of millions of dollars wasted bulldozing a path to N.S.W. or Victoria, money could go to South Australia installing solar power.  What if Victoria or N.S.W. goes on strike?  South Australia should be self-sufficient for its power needs.
• We have the technology to have all houses, buildings and street lights powered by solar energy.  Alternative energy generation needs to be implemented.  Subsidisation for initial setup costs needs to be explored.
• The C.S.I.R.O. and other research bodies should be properly funded.
• Conservation of natural resources should be encouraged, e.g. subsidisation of rainwater tank installations, alternative energy installations, recycling, etc.
• Thousands of jobs could be produced, if South Australia focused on solar energy, wind power, geo-thermal bio gas, rainwater, renewable energy, exporting technology.  As well as wine and wheat, organic farming production is what the world wants now.

All these new initiatives and businesses will be properly funded by the government, and other industries can contribute to a "share pool of ethical investments."  Shares will be offered to all South Australians and taxpayers, and sold to other interstate and overseas investors.  People will support a business if they own it.  Hundreds of millions of dollars can be raised.

I will also support the film and music industries, which have the potential to earn hundreds of millions of dollars for South Australians.  For the last decade both Liberal and Labor have stuffed up!  Professional people and industries will be involved, with shares issued to raise vital funds for the entertainment industry.  Which will assist in funding theatre, television, feature films, serials, radio programmes, local content and employment, including isolated and regional South Australian areas.  As well as many other worthwhile projects.

The media has an important role, not only in information and entertainment, but also education.  I will work with the media to protect journalists for seeking the truth and justice, and exposing corrupt activity.  The current defamation, suppression and freedom of information laws seriously need reviewing.

Voting for an independent is not throwing away your vote.  Only an independent can do something different from the party line.  Please don't hesitate to contact me about any issues of concern.

Make your vote count, please VOTE 1 Andrew Stanko, your strong voice in the Legislative Council.