GST share a priority

GST share a priority

1992
Current Federal Member for Tangney Dennis Jensen with his partner Trudy Hoad following Dr Jensen’s announcement he would run as an independent. Photograph – Matt Devlin.
Current Federal Member for Tangney Dennis Jensen with his partner Trudy Hoad following Dr Jensen’s announcement he would run as an independent. Photograph – Matt Devlin.

Former Liberal member turned independent candidate for Tangney Dennis Jensen says a vote for him at the July 2 federal election is a two for one conservative deal.

He was ousted as the Liberal member for Tangney in April when a preselection battle saw former state Liberal party director Ben Morton selected instead.

Dr Jensen then decided to run as an independent, which saw his Liberal Party membership revoked.

He criticised the Liberal Party for putting the party over the constituents and said he decided to run as an independent because of community support.

“It was the strong support that was given to me by the community, a strong vote of confidence by them and I thought well I can’t just let this go and let the constituents down,” he said.

“I certainly have the view that the constituents deserve someone that puts the constituents first and not the party.”

He said a vote for him would be for conservative values and as an independent he could influence both major parties.

“People can be assured that in voting for me they won’t be voting for the Labor Party,” he said.

“With me I can fight very hard and the other thing is that being an independent I can apply pressure on whichever side happens to be in government, Labor or Liberal.”

Dr Jensen said he would fight for WA to get a greater share of the GST and push for a royal commission into banks.

“I’ve put in the challenge to all other members, senators and candidates in WA to commit that they will insist on WA getting at least 70 cents in the dollar on GST,” he said.

“I will not be giving support to anyone if necessary without that commitment.”

He also threw his support behind the Roe 8 project but criticised the state Liberals for taking so long with it and bungling the environmental approvals.

Dr Jensen said he would also fight any proposed retrospective legislative changes to superannuation.