Steve Hudson: Joining the Dots for Eastern Victoria
A community like Eastern Victoria is like a puzzle. When the pieces are scattered, we feel the disconnect.
My mission is to join the dots.
My career has been built on a simple premise: helping people find a viable pathway to success, based on their values and their purpose.
Later in life, a period of illness forced me to pause and reflect. In that stillness, I rediscovered Ikigai—the Japanese secret to a purposeful life. It was a “wow” moment that filled a missing piece of my puzzle. It taught me that whether you are managing a household budget or a state budget, you must have a clear sense of purpose.
But as we look toward the 2026 State Election, it’s clear that for many in Eastern Victoria, those pathways are becoming harder to find.
Here are the main parties’ policies I will endeavor to review, add to these, and expand in greater depth for each policy area, and how they may affect Eastern Victoria.
Cost of Living
ALP
Prioritizes relief in 2025-26 budget, supporting lower-income households with essentials like food, housing, utilities, and transport; sacrificed $1bn from surplus for measures to ease pressures on families.
Liberal Party
Proposes a bipartisan fiscal commission to fix the debt crisis, aiming to improve economic conditions and reduce inflationary pressures through better management.
National Party
Aligns with the Liberal Party as a coalition partner, emphasizing fiscal responsibility to stabilize the economy and lower living costs.
Greens
Focuses on reducing costs through quality job creation, affordable housing initiatives, and renewable energy to cut utility bills.
One Nation
Seeks to reduce taxes, pay down debt, and encourage economic growth to alleviate pressures, though state-specific details are limited.
Opportunity for Improvement
Enhance targeted subsidies for vulnerable groups and integrate with federal programs; explore wage support mechanisms to address root causes.
Crime
ALP
Introduces ‘Adult Time for Violent Crime’ laws allowing 14-year-olds to be tried as adults for serious offenses; crackdown on hate speech and antisemitism with new vilification provisions.
Liberal Party
Pushes for coercive control criminalization via Crimes Amendment Bill; $100m Safer Communities Plan including Jack’s Law for knife searches and residential offenders programs.
National Party
Supports Liberal’s crime initiatives as Coalition, focusing on community safety and tougher laws against abusive behaviors.
Greens
Limited specific state policies; generally advocates for justice reforms but backs urgent gun reforms in related areas.
One Nation
Emphasizes improving community safety through better management, though details lean toward federal; supports tougher sentencing for crimes.
Opportunity for Improvement
Increase community policing and preventive programs; integrate mental health support to reduce recidivism rates.
Economic Recovery
ALP
Focuses on long-term infrastructure, health, and education investments in the 2025-26 budget to drive growth; supports key commitments for well-being and economic stability.
Liberal Party
Advocates back-to-basics economic plan: reining in spending, reducing regulations, lower taxes/fees, and infrastructure delivery.
National Party
Aligns with Liberal’s economic plan, emphasizing regional growth and common-sense solutions for a stronger economy.
Greens
Promotes economic recovery through cost-of-living reductions and quality job creation, tied to sustainable initiatives.
One Nation
Aims to restore credit rating, pay down debt, reduce taxes, and encourage growth after mismanagement.
Opportunity for Improvement
Strengthen public-private partnerships and invest in innovation hubs; address debt sustainably without cutting essential services
Energy
ALP
Supports renewable transition with targets, investment prospectus for renewables, and transmission plan to replace coal/gas.
Liberal Party
Limited state specifics; federally opposed subsidies for renewables, but state focuses on reliable infrastructure.
National Party
Aligns with Coalition; emphasizes using natural resources for prosperity, opposing heavy subsidies for foreign renewables.
Greens
Pushes for 100% renewable energy by 2030, replacing coal and gas, supporting workers in transition.
One Nation
Opposes multi-billion-dollar subsidies for solar/wind; prefers using abundant natural resources for citizens’ prosperity.
Opportunity for Improvement
Accelerate grid modernization and community-owned renewables; balance with reliability to avoid shortages.
Environment
ALP
Advances Climate Change Strategy 2026-30, emissions reduction, resilience; acknowledges Aboriginal communities.
Liberal Party
Dropped the 2050 net-zero commitment; focuses on practical economic approaches over strict targets.
National Party
Aligns with Liberal Views; questions climate science, calling for continued research without drastic measures.
Greens
Strong protection focus, tied to renewable energy and biodiversity; opposes insufficient evidence-based catastrophes.
One Nation
Believes in continued climate research but sees insufficient evidence for catastrophes; questions science.
Opportunity for Improvement
Accelerate grid modernization and community-owned renewables; balance with reliability to avoid shortages.
Firearms Policy
ALP
Reviewing gun laws post-incidents supports national commitments to stronger laws, crackdown on illegal firearms.
Liberal Party
Limited specifics; general crime focus, but aligns with safer communities initiatives.
National Party
Aligns with Liberal; supports responsible ownership without further restrictions
Greens
Backs urgent comprehensive gun reform to enhance community safety and stronger laws.
One Nation
Supports responsible gun ownership, preserves current laws for law-abiding citizens; calls for stricter borders and tougher sentencing for gun crimes.
OFI
Harmonize state-federal registries and increase public education on safety; focus on mental health screenings.