Ahead of the 2025 Federal Election, the Illawarra Flame is giving all local candidates a chance to share their vision for Australia.

Jess Whittaker is the Greens Candidate for Cunningham, the Commonwealth Electoral Division covering most of the Wollongong LGA, from Helensburgh to Windang and Unanderra. Jess works as a paramedic and is the Greens councillor for Ward 1 in Wollongong.

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Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m a first time candidate for Cunningham. I grew up in Bulli and now live in Port Kembla with my husband and two daughters. I work as a paramedic and was recently elected as a Wollongong City Councillor. My hobbies and passions include surfing, bike riding and spending time with my family at the beach. I also help coordinate a small dunecare site and a Crop Swap in Port Kembla.

What inspired you to enter politics?

I became politically engaged as an environmental activist. I could see that the world, especially our lovely climate, wasn't heading in a good direction from a young age and felt that I needed to be part of the solutions. So after trying a few things like studying science at university, joining climate protests, organising beach clean ups and tree planting days and campaigning to clean up our local waterways, as well as a few campaigns to build skateparks and bike paths in the Illawarra, it became obvious that real change can happen when we elect people who want to make a difference to political positions. 

The Greens inspired me because they make an impact wherever they’re elected, even though they very rarely hold the power. Greens at all levels of government make themselves accessible to the community and have policies that improve peoples lives and are clearly explained to the community. While I like some of our federal independents, what I love about the Greens is that there is a team of passionate community members behind us, holding us up, helping us push for the four pillars, which are ecological sustainability, peace and non violence, grassroots democracy and social justice. 

What would be your top 3 priorities if elected?

Firstly, we have an economy that is barely growing, our wages are not keeping up with the cost of living, and our once great public services–our health care, our education, and our other services–are in decline. I find this sad.

My top three priorities for this federal election include: 

• 1. 50c public transport fares – I’m a big advocate for public transport, getting around on your bike or ebike, walking, pushing the pram, just being active, rather than jumping in the car. This 50 cent transport policy can help us change how we get around our cities. Imagine where we had less cars on the roads, easier access to trains and buses, and better walking pathways. This policy has changed how people get around in Brisbane. 
• 2. A thriving and fun community centre and library in Warrawong. I’m extremely disappointed this Federal government hasn’t kicked in any funding for the Warrawong community centre and library. Again it’s an indication that the current government is not listening to ordinary people like you and I. If the Federal government doesn’t provide funding, it will blow a big hole in the council's budget. And that will then see other projects all over the city not go ahead. As a Greens candidate I will work to get this community centre funded for Cunningham.  
• 3. Free dental and mental health care in Medicare. This policy could change so many people's lives. It makes no sense that your teeth and mental health aren’t covered by Medicare. We know that right now many people are putting off seeing the Doctor or psychologist simply because they can’t afford this luxury. I think it’s really important we deliver dental and mental health care for all people. And how do we pay for this? Well it's easy, we make sure those billionaires and corporations pay their fair share of tax. This change to our taxation could raise more than $514 billion.

If you could deliver one key local project in your term, what would it be?

If I’m elected the Greens could secure the balance of power, this would help us push the next Federal government to take strong action to help our climate which is in crisis. We need to stop opening new coal and gas mines, and end the expansion of current coal and gas mines and exploration, we need to end native forest logging and restore our natural areas. In the last three years the ALP government has approved 25 new coal and gas projects. This makes a mockery of their call for a greener economy.

A clean and renewable energy mix is vital for the lives of my daughters and the next generations. If we don’t begin to slow down and stop the greenhouse gases going into the environment, global warming will only get worse. 

There is a real risk that at this 2025 Federal election a Liberal National Party coalition would work to undo all the progress we’ve made in moving to a greener and sustainable economy and energy mix. They would use tactics of delay and distraction, such as building nuclear power plants. This is not based on reality. Whoever is elected to hold government, I would be pushing them to do more to care for the planet we all depend on for survival. 

Why are you the best person for the job?

As a Greens member I would always listen to our community and I am not supported by billionaires, big corporations, lobbyists or corporate donors. I came into politics because I know it can make a difference to people's lives and the natural beauty and wonder of my village, our city, our escarpment, and our beaches. And the whole world actually. As the member for Cunningham I would stay true to these values and keep fighting for our beautiful city to be a world leader in climate solutions, with lots of fun things to see and do, cheap public transport, healthcare that looks after our whole body, and accessible towns and villages with all the services the community needs to live fulfilling lives. 

Read more

The Illawarra Flame puts the same questions to all candidates, giving everyone a chance to share their vision for Australia.

• Q&A with Amanda Ivaneza, Liberal Candidate for Cunningham 
• Q&A with Jess Whittaker, Greens candidate for Cunningham 
• Q&A with Carol Berry, Labor candidate for Whitlam