Elections > Federal Election 2004 > Candidates

Duncan Dean

Australian Democrats candidate for Solomon

Candidate

Why I am standing

House of Representatives Candidate for Solomon

KNOW YOUR CANDIDATE - PROFILE

Duncan Dean was born in Melbourne and educated in Tasmania. In 1965 he was amongst the first of the Duke’s Mob in Australia to earn the Gold Award for social service, sporting ability and expeditionary skills. He has a Bachelor of Business degree in Tourism.

From his early twenties Duncan worked for the Australian Government serving in Papua New Guinea as a District Officer. He worked tirelessly for fourteen years with the PNG people to assist our near neighbours develop their social, economic and political strengths in this region.

In 1980 Duncan, his wife and two young sons moved to Victoria where the family operated a successful small trail ride business near Melbourne.

Moving to the NT in 1986 Duncan has spent 14 years serving in all regions of the Territory working with Indigenous Territorians and government agencies to develop Indigenous social, cultural and economic opportunities.

Duncan Dean discussing Northern Territory Secondary Education Review and Federal Education funding for Schools with Democrats Leader, Senator Andrew Bartlett in Darwin.

Duncan’s years of public service and his business experience running his tourism and planning consultancy in Palmerston for the past 4 years, together with his knowledge of family needs, has provided him with strong insight into urban and remote Territory communities.

Having raised a family with now adult children and with wide and varied public
service and private enterprise experience Duncan has a sound understanding of the areas in which the Commonwealth can work with the Northern Territory. This level of knowledge is a valuable asset to any politician in our Territory which may soon be the 7th Australian state.

With Australian defence and homeland security so important in today’s volatile world, and with Darwin in the front line of discourse with Asia on many issues such as trade and tourism, it is important now for the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory to work very closely together.

After 18 years working in all regions of the Territory, Duncan’s knowledge of the NT, its people and its potentials is enriched by his wide experience. He knows the Territory well.

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Important issues in my electorate

Universal Bulk Billing for all Australians

Fair and needs based funding of Australian schools

Stronger social, economic and political relations with our
3 thousand million South East Asian northern neighbours.

Environmental sustainability in all new industry

Strong support for small business - the rock of the economy.

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Important policy documents

Duncan Dean “Your Democrats Watchdog” in Solomon

KNOW YOUR CANDIDATE - PLATFORM

Duncan Dean believes that the Northern Territory and its residents deserve a fair and honest Australian Parliament which makes good decisions and laws which are made in full consultation with the Australian people. This is not always happening under the current Government or with the policies outlined by the Australian Labor Party.

• HONESTY Australia’s Parliament must represent all Australians. The invasion of Iraq was illegal, immoral and unwise. Our troops should not have to risk their lives for lies. Australians didn't vote for war. Both houses of Parliament must consent before we ever go to war. Don't let any Prime Minister do it again.

• HEALTH A fairer Medicare system - affordable medicine and treatment with bulk-billing and expansion to cover dental care, nursing and allied health services. Duncan has written to the Minister for Health asking for a Medicare Office in Palmerston.

• EDUCATION A fairer Australian education system that is funded on the basis of need and recognises the needs of government (particularly Indigenous) schools through significant increases in funding. Free primary, secondary and tertiary education available to all Australians as education is a long term investment in Australia’s future – not a long term cost.

• ENVIRONMENT Safeguard our Environment by supporting reduced greenhouse emissions, ending old growth forest clearing, protecting land and sea ecologies, more efficient and sustainable use of Australia’s resources and energy, working towards sustainable cities with innovative public transport and actively protecting aquifers such as the Daly River.

• COAST GUARD A safer Australia with coastal surveillance including an efficient Australian Coastguard to control illegal fishing vessels, drug runners, people smugglers and quarantine breaches.

• TRADE Support for fair trade that is in our national interest rather than Free Trade Agreements which will compromise Australian sovereignty, our health system, our environmental and social standards, our national cultural identity and takes away jobs from Australians.

• SOCIETY A free and safe multicultural society with Australians of all races, sexes, and religions free from discrimination and having equal rights.

• INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS Fair and effective Indigenous development policies and programs designed and controlled by Indigenous Australians. The Democrats are supporting new and innovative ways for Indigenous Australians to move forward economically and socially.

• NUCLEAR Safe, storage of nuclear waste close to where it is generated. Australian states and territories should store their own waste near where it is made to avoid the risks of transport.

• FAMILY Family and community services policy that does not rely on tricks like blatant cash bribes to families just before an election. The Australian Democrats propose paid maternity leave, reduction of hours in a standard working week, greater job security for casual workers, improved family-friendly working hours and flexible access to affordable childcare.

• ELDERLY Aged care facilities in the Northern Territory appropriate to an ageing and growing population base, with increased Commonwealth funding for high quality residential and home based aged care services regardless of an individual’s capacity to pay.

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Contact Details

Other Candidates

DAVIDSON, Jim - ALP
ELDRIDGE, Ilana - GRN
FLYNN, Peter - CEC
FOLEY, Maurice - IND
* TOLLNER, David - CLP
WEST, Mark - FFP

* incumbent