Working to change the state of our STATE.
We need positive outcomes, financially and in trust.

Planning is the issue I hear about most across Macedon. Communities such as Gisborne and Riddells Creek are facing significant growth, while the proposed new township at Clarkefield raises questions about the future of our region.

People often tell me, “Dom, we’re not against development. We know growth is coming. But it needs to be appropriate and respect the communities already here.” I agree.

I do not believe the approved Amess Road development is appropriate for Riddells Creek. I also oppose the proposed Clarkefield township. Growth must be matched by infrastructure, protect what makes each place distinctive and give local people a genuine say in decisions that affect them.

I support proper scrutiny of major projects, transparent decision making and meaningful opportunities for communities and landholders to be heard. I also support restoring VCAT review rights where planning changes have removed them.

The Development Facilitation Program needs reform. If it cannot provide the scrutiny and community input our region deserves, it should be scrapped. Planning rules designed to speed up development across Victoria must account for the needs and character of regional communities.

Years of inadequate investment have left too many of our roads in poor condition. Residents see the pot holes and damage every day, and quick fixes are no substitute for a long-term plan.

This won’t be fixed overnight. I will push for sustained funding to repair and maintain our roads, with a fair share directed to the regional roads our communities rely on.

Let’s get tough on crime!

For too long, we have watched Melbourne return to the Underbelly days because we’ve been soft on crime.

People deserve to feel safe in their homes, on public transport and in their town centres. I support giving police practical tools to prevent knife crime, alongside the frontline resources needed to respond when people call for help.

That includes a Victorian version of Jack’s Law, allowing police to use handheld metal detectors to find knives and machetes in public places, with clear safeguards and public reporting on how the powers are used.

Victorians deserve the same determination when it comes to protecting public money. The royal commission into integrity on major public construction projects must be free to follow the evidence, examine decisions across government and the construction industry, and identify who is accountable for any wrongdoing.

$15 billion is a lot of money that may have been lost on Big Build projects. I will assess the commission’s findings and whether its powers and terms of reference allowed it to get to the truth. If significant questions remain, I will support further investigation.

Taxes should be fair, easy to understand and mindful of the pressure on households and businesses. Government must also fund the services our communities depend on.

Fund emergency services properly

I support scrapping the Emergency Services and Volunteers tax. As an SES volunteer for more than 10 years, I know how important properly equipped and supported emergency services are. I also understand why people are frustrated by another charge on their rates notice.

Scrapping the tax must come with a clear plan to fund emergency services reliably through the state budget. Our volunteers and frontline crews need dependable support, and Victorians deserve to know how it will be paid for.

Give small businesses room to grow

Small business owners, including the many local tradies I speak with, work hard, employ local people and are the engine room of our local economy. They need a tax system that supports growth and lets them spend more time running their businesses.

I support reviewing how payroll tax applies to businesses and whether its threshold provides enough relief as wages and costs rise. I also support reducing the land tax burden and cutting unnecessary compliance costs for small businesses.

Any changes should be practical, clearly costed and focused on making it easier to start, run and grow a business in Victoria.

Victoria’s debt is forecast to reach $175 billion by June 2027 and lmost $200 billion by June 2030.

Treasury expects interest expenses to rise from almost $9 billion in 2026–27 to almost $12 billion in 2029–30.

That’s more than $1 million an hour next financial year, rising to about $1.35 million an hour by the end of the decade.

We need to take this seriously for the sake of our children and grandchildren. I support reducing waste and improving how government works while protecting the frontline services our communities rely on, including (but not limited to) teachers, nurses, police, and firefighters.

That means asking whether programs deliver value, learning from costly mistakes and reviewing the use of contractors and consultants. The $13 million allocated to the machete bins and the almost $600 million Victoria spent planning for and withdrawing from the Commonwealth Games are just two examples.

Every public dollar should be spent with care, and government should be open about what that spending achieves.

Victorians need energy they can rely on at a price they can afford. I support a review of Victoria’s major transmission projects to examine their costs, benefits for energy security, and impacts on farmland and regional communities.

These projects are significant investments. Decisions about them should be transparent and show that Victorians are getting value for money.

People across the electorate should be able to access the care they need when they need it. I support protecting frontline health services and funding them to meet the needs of our growing communities.

That means listening to local patients and health workers, addressing pressure on existing services and making sure regional communities receive their fair share of investment.