By Michael Giles
FAMILY First candidate in the electorate of Monash, Geoff Dethlefs, is a different cat.
A resident of Drouin for 20 years, a former Chairo Christian School teacher and Baptist Church pastor, he tells it like he sees it which you’re allowed to do in Australia.
On a busy day at the Wonthaggi polling booth last Thursday, he had just enough time when handing out his ‘how-to-vote’ card to the passing parade of locals to say; “our focus is on families and what they need”.
Stands to reason.
But his policies run deeper into the fundamentals of Australia’s way of life.
“Why did I decide to run for the seat of Monash?
“Politicians have created a cost-of-living crisis through net zero policies, they are confusing our children about their gender and government is putting pressure on parents’ rights to educate their children in the faith-based school of their choice.
“This needs to stop. The Albanese Government has no answers; it makes choices that worsen the problems.
“Why did you choose to join Family First?
“A team is far more effective than being an independent. Family First believes strong families create a strong nation and the more family-focused MPs we can get into Parliament the better we can make life for mums and dads raising the next generation, and the stronger our future as a nation will be.”
He lists cost of living, housing and the pressure on families as a result of the government’s energy policy as key issues.
“Cut power prices. Australia must urgently abandon net zero, the Paris accords, and the rollout of wind turbines and solar factories. This is driving up the cost of electricity and therefore the cost of everything else. ‘Free power’ is not so free! We must return urgently to affordable and reliable sources of power generation such as Victoria’s abundant coal and gas. If China, India and the US decide to go to zero emissions over time then Australia could gradually transition to nuclear energy.”
He wants to see parents free to educate their kids in the school of their choice “free from governments imposing LGBTIQA+ influencers on their faith-based schools” and he’ll fight to get biological males out of girls’ and women’s sports and their toilets and change rooms.
“Men are free, as adults, to choose to live as women, but they must not invade female spaces, as they are still biological males whatever invasive surgery they have had.”
That, in part, is what Geoff Dethlefs stands for.
Asked why he thought so many people were voting early last week, Geoff said many people were fed up with the messages from both sides during the election campaign and just wanted it over and done with.
Early voting centres at Cowes and Wonthaggi are open daily at 8.30am Monday to Friday this week, extending to 6pm on Friday.
All your usual polling booths will be open on Election Day, Saturday, May 3 from 8am to 6pm.
Go to aec.gov.au/election/voting for details of a polling place near you.
