Hi, my name is Dr Luke Robinson.

Last year I stood for Lismore City Council in the local government elections, and I am now honoured to be standing as the Greens candidate for the seat of Page at the next federal election.

I live in Whian Whian, on Widjabul-Wiabal country north of Lismore and work as a specialist Emergency Physician in the emergency departments of Lismore, Casino and Ballina hospitals, having also recently worked at Grafton and Maclean.

I perform as a singer-songwriter/poet at music festivals and public events locally and around Australia. In Whian Whian I am involved in Big Scrub rainforest and native grassland regeneration activities on local land.

Working as an emergency department doctor here in Lismore and other local towns, I care for a broad cross-section of our community, with a deep appreciation not just of the medical needs, but also the social and economic challenges my patients and their loved ones face.

I see people struggling to get timely health care, who can’t find a bulk-billing GP or afford private medical specialist, psychologist or dental fees. There is a desperate need in this region for more aged care facilities and home care packages - too many elderly patients languish in our hospitals because there is nowhere else safe to discharge them to. I see the struggles of those whose pay doesn't keep up with the cost of living, in insecure work, barely able to afford a roof over their heads or made homeless. 

Too many in our region are still reeling from (un)natural disasters like the 2022 floods, with their bodies, minds and relationships groaning under the weight of it all.

There is strength and resilience in our community too, warm-heartedness, and a desire to support one another through tough times. We have demonstrated many times that we are stronger when we are connected and work together, and this is essential as we face challenges now and into the future. One of the most important ways we can achieve this, at scale and on a sustainable long-term basis, is through our shared public services, through our government. 

I believe we should look after each other, and our land, using well-funded and well-run government services, paid for through a fair and progressive taxation system. The provision of universal public services are the best way of ensuring fairness and are more economically efficient than expensive privatised ones – health care is a prime example.

For decades now governments have been under-investing in our public services, and we have suffered as individuals, as a region and as a country as a result, creating damaging divides socially and economically. Unfortunately, the major parties either make the problems worse, or lack the ambition required to really make a difference, and they have taken this electorate of Page for granted for too long now.

Government should be working for us all – but we have to demand it and vote in representatives with the vision and ambition to make it so.

Together, through our government, we can have the world-class public healthcare, aged care and public schools that a rich country like ours should have. We can stand up for ordinary people and guarantee secure work with decent pay. We can once again have affordable housing – whether one is a first home-buyer or a renter. We can make the big end of town pay its fair share of tax and play by the rules we set.

Together, through our government, we can support workers and communities in their transition from old to new industries rather than pretend that change isn't happening or leaving people to the vagaries of the market. Our unique, our only, irreplaceable natural home can be treasured, protected and healed from the many wounds we have inflicted.

We can be a leader rather than a laggard internationally as this world moves to a clean energy future.

We can be proud of the ancient and enduring cultures of our First Peoples across this continent, finding peace as we listen and learn how to connect with each other and this land. To care for each other and to care for country is what motivates me to present as your Greens candidate for Page.

It would be an honour to be given the chance to represent you when you vote at the next federal election.

To find out more or support my campaign, go to:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrLukeForPage.

• Website: https://greens.org.au/nsw/person/dr-luke-robinson.