I HAVE proudly called Eden-Monaro home for nearly 30 years.

Drawn by family, friends, and the pristine environment of Mulloon Creek near Bungendore, I settled in the region in the 1990s and by 1996 had purchased land to establish Landtasia, a certified organic cattle farm built on sustainable farming principles and environmental stewardship.

Before farming, I built a distinguished 35-year career in the technology sector, serving as an entrepreneur, company director, and chairman across successful private and public companies.

In 2008, I decided to give back to my local area, serving two terms as a councillor on the former Palerang Council.

Being on council taught me that good government isn’t about just winning arguments, it’s about listening, respecting differences, and doing what works for locals.

I know the struggles of everyday Australians first-hand.

In recent years, my partners and I ran a café in Bungendore through the difficult COVID years and beyond. I have seen how rising costs are pricing people out of every day experiences like going out for a meal or a drink, and how pensioners, families, and small businesses are being squeezed more than ever.

That disconnect between political spin and real-life challenges led me to One Nation. I was drawn to the party’s straight-talking values and common-sense approach from cutting fuel tax and boosting housing affordability to letting pensioners work without penalty and protecting Australian farmland from foreign ownership.

At 72, running for parliament wasn’t part of my retirement plan. But, like many Australians, I believe the nation has reached a tipping point.

I don’t think we can keep going down the same road. It’s time to trust Australians to build, work, and shape their own future.

I also pushed back on the idea that voting for a minor party is a wasted vote. History shows it’s minor parties that keep the big parties honest and that’s exactly what I want to do in Canberra.

If elected, I pledge to represent Eden-Monaro with honesty, integrity, and unwavering commitment to locals.