Optics Australia asks every party and candidate to give clear, measurable commitments on issues that matter to Victorians, including the Indian-Australian community.
The same questions have been sent to all parties, and responses will be published unedited. We have requested them to respond with specific information, funding source and timelines.
01 Cost of living
Which three specific measures will you introduce in your first budget to reduce household costs, and what is their annual cost to the budget?
02 Fiscal responsibility
What debt and deficit targets will you commit to, and how will you report against them?
03 Housing and infrastructure
What annual housing supply target will you set, and how will you make sure transport, schools and hospitals are funded to keep pace with population growth in outer suburbs?
04 Health
What numeric targets will you set for ambulance response times, emergency and elective waiting times, and mental health access, and by when?
05 Community safety
What will you do to reduce violent crime and youth offending, and how will you measure whether it’s working?
06 Representation
What steps will your party take on candidate preselection, board and committee appointments, and multicultural advisory bodies so that Victoria’s diverse communities, including Indian Australians, are represented in decision-making?
07 Protecting places of worship
What specific measures (e.g. security funding, enforcement, rapid response) will you introduce to protect all places of worship, including Hindu temples, from vandalism and intimidation?
08 Hate and religious discrimination
Will you commit to publishing regular, public data on religiously motivated hate incidents, including anti-Hindu incidents, and to a clear process for victims to report and get a response?
09 Culture and heritage
How will you support multicultural festivals, community language programs and heritage recognition, including Diwali, Holi and other Indian cultural events, as part of Victoria’s shared identity?
10 Fair funding and accountability
(a) Will you publish clear, needs-based criteria and annual data on who receives community grants?
(b) What are your five commitments for the first 12 months in government, and how can the public track progress?
