Petrus Van Der Steen is standing for election in the seat of Parkes Back Country Bulletin contacted candidates in the electorate of Parkes, and offered them the opportunity to introduce themselves to our BCB audience.Petrus Van Der Steen is a professional musician with a diverse background in security and the tech industry, and is the Trumpet of Patriots candidate for the NSW electorate of Parkes at the upcoming Federal Election.Mr Van Der Steen says he brings a strong voice for everyday Australians, calling for commonsense policies and a return to practical governance.“Australians are crying out for leadership that understands real life—not the career politics of the Canberra bubble,” Mr Van Der Steen said.“Trumpet of Patriots is the real alternative to the ‘uni-party’ of Labor and the Coalition, who’ve become indistinguishable in their failure to address the core issues hurting our communities.”With firsthand experience across creative, technical, and security sectors, Mr Van Der Steen says he will bring a no-nonsense, solutions-focused approach to Parliament.“I’m standing for the third time for the people of Parkes who feel forgotten, who want their country back, and who deserve a representative who’ll speak plainly, act boldly, and always put Australia first,” he said.Issues for ParkesMr Van Der Steen said the most pressing issues for the Parkes Electorate are:Cost of livingFamilies are feeling the pinch, and heading into winter more and more people will be forced to choose between paying the rent, their mortgage or turning on the heater. What can be done to provide immediate hip-pocket relief for people being smashed at the bowser, the check-out and bills in Parkes?“In regards to mortgages we will cap interest rates at 3% max. As for rent we will put a moratorium on rent hikes and take off the red tape and remove bureaucratic hurdles from home development as to stimulate the faster building of new homes.“For fuel we will drastically cut in half excise/fuel tax to a set amount per litre instead of a percentage so fuel price fluctuations will not apply to the tax involved.“We will audit and hold to account the big supermarket chains in regards to pricing of their products. This will include more than just fines for bad behaviour....“Prices will come down as a result if energy prices drop and transport/storage costs drop due to our energy policies, which include thorium based nuclear power generation.“This will be bridged by using our existing coal power plants until nuclear comes online in full. We can achieve this in the very short term as these facilities are readily available.“Again, common sense...” Mr Van Der SteenPM supportAlbanese or Dutton - who’s your preferred prime minister?“Neither, one has failed to deliver and the other is untested.“Both are beholden to lobby groups, unions, think tanks and illustrious relations and lobbying firms such as Barton Deakin (Coalition) and Hawker Britton (Labor) which really are piggybanks for have-been former politicians and government officials. “We will bar those kinds of influences out of politics as they blur the lines in ethical behaviour and dark money.”EnergyAre you for or against nuclear power? There are major renewables projects flagged for parts of Parkes, with the Central West Orana REZ landing in parts of the electorate, all of which are facing large opposition from farmers/communities in the region. Are you in favour of renewables? And if so, what’s the best way to manage large-scale solar and wind farms in our backyard? “We are keen supporters of thorium-based nuclear technology as it has been tested extensively overseas and found to be clean, safe, reliable and extremely low cost for the average household. True net zero, plus we have the biggest reserves for the fuel.“Renewables have their place in a smaller scale deployment with households, like roof solar and as such in remote areas with no access to the grid. Also, it's useful when going camping. But that is all it can do so far.“Large scale renewables are expensive to build, maintain and are not viable in the long run, create unrecyclable waste at the end of lifespan, cause spikes on the grid (ask any sparky), kill our native birds (wind farms), cause health problems with people who live in their vicinity and take up very valuable farmland, better suited for agricultural purposes (not solar farms). All in all, not reliable, too expensive to run and underperforming. Not suitable for total reliance. “So, I will vote against it, full stop,” Mr Van Der Steen.HealthThe Albanese government has announced urgent care clinics across the country. However, there’s none in Parkes or the majority of regional NSW. With ED wait times still an issue across the electorate and more and more people battling to see a GP, what’s the most important fix health-wise needed in Parkes?“My daughter is a registered nurse so I do know a bit about what the problem is.“As medical staff can make substantial more money in states like Queensland it will be hard to find medicos willing to work in the NSW bush. We will support more pay and benefits to our much-appreciated doctors and nurses in NSW by making their pay the same all over Australia on a national level so there is an incentive to work anywhere in the country. “(We will) Provide incentives for doctors, like tax benefits, better facilities/clinics to work in the bush so access to healthcare will improve. (We will) Also, revamp/finance our Flying Doctor services who have served us well in the past, so they can continue to do so in the future. Again, common sense...”HousingHouse prices have risen across regional NSW in the last decade. How do we keep the Australian dream of home ownership alive in Parkes? And what type of housing are we in need of most?“We will cap home loans/mortgages at 3%, create new infrastructure like high-speed railways to the outer suburbs, cut bureaucratic red tape on building permits and land releases. This will speed up the building and will bring down cost of land and homes. Also, as a result of more availability, rents will come down significantly.“As we need low-cost housing the most, we will prioritise building low-cost housing for low-income families, who are the most at risk of homelessness due to being priced out of the current market. We will also have to manage our immigration a lot better and stricter to take the pressure off and limit or even stop foreign ownership. “Currently we need to put a stop on immigration for the time being and vet what we already have here.”Domestic violenceRates of DV across Parkes continue to rise, as reported last month. What needs to be done to end the rates of domestic violence?“Due to current financial pressure on families, mortgage stress, uncertainty about the future, media fear campaigns and many other factors, such as substance abuse and mental welfare the cases of domestic violence have risen dramatically all over the country. If we can come together more as a community, we can minimise the damage on the ground by supporting and protecting victims of DV, women, children and men, because let's face it, it also happens to men. We will actively improve funding for safe houses, specialist staffing and security personnel, education on the matter and harsher punishment for serial offenders.“On the other hand, we need to make sure there is proper monitoring on AVOs (Apprehended Violence Orders) and enforcement, so no one slips through the cracks.“We can do more with a stronger community spirit. “As a political party we can make a difference by implementing better policies to take away the root causes of mortgage stress, uncertainty and improve mental health support and support to help stop substance abuse in our society.”RoadsName five roads across the Parkes electorate that are in need of funding for repairs - and what work would you like to see completed?“Unfortunately, there are more than just five roads that need serious upgrading & subsequent maintenance, especially where heavy truck traffic is prominent. Access roads to remote communities, such as Broken Hill and Wilcannia plus all other communities along those roads, are vital lifelines for transporting provisions, building materials, mining equipment and many other necessities.” “We will work with local communities to identify priorities and start there. We will also liaise with the big mining and other companies that benefit from better infrastructure to contribute to the cost as is already happening in some areas. This will make our roads safer and better.”Water securityMayors across the electorate are urging residents to be more water wise as dam levels dip to lows not seen in years. What’s the best way to ensure Parkes’ water security moving toward the next drought?“Being waterwise is a good start but as I have been advocating for the past two elections, we need more dams spread out and a national approach to proper management of the Murray-Darling river basin.“Also, more dams create new ecosystems and a refuge for flora and fauna, strengthening the survival of certain native species that are under threat by drought & other environmental influences.“We have plans ready to be implemented for all round improvement of the water situation all along the Murray-Darling from spring to ocean on a federal level across all states involved.”ConnectivityThe news media have reported on a number of instances where people have been left stranded on the side of the road with no mobile reception. It’s not good enough that in 2025 people aren’t able to make a phone call from the side of the road, or work from home with a reliable internet connection. What needs to be done to ensure connectivity for all of Parkes?“Let Starlink compete with the other telcos and bring down cost of internet, phone and other vital communication systems we need in the bush. “It is already in the making and we will see enormous improvement over the next few years, especially in notorious black spots. Satellite-based communication will take care of that.” CrimeThe youth crime crisis continues to escalate. What diversionary and preventative programs are required in Parkes to ensure young kids in the region have enough support and engagement to avoid being caught up in the juvenile justice system?“Our youth has a great future if we all come together as a community. The old saying 'It takes a whole village to raise our kids' is definitely applicable here. If we are able to improve access to proper education and gainful employment in the bush, a lot will improve on that matter. For the harder cases and real criminals, we will enforce the law a lot stricter and harsher. Adult crime does warrant adult time.“Stricter bail laws and consistency in enforcement needs to be addressed here.”Mining excises are the way forward, according to Mr Van Der Steen“If you ask me where our funding comes from, the answer is clear: Excise 15% on all our mining exports, especially our iron ore,” Mr Van Der Steen told Back Country Bulletin.“That will pay off our national debt in no time, provide funding for new industries like manufacturing, R&D, new technologies and our social programs like better education and social cohesiveness. “We need to become self-sufficient and self-reliant again, not depending on the outside world for essentials and we need to create a merit-based society with a heart and help for our less fortunate members of society so they can function as worthy members of that society. “Approach problems with a common-sense solution based on what works, not beholden by narrative, dogma or party politics. We need to reform our judiciary to weed out corruption, nepotism and gravy train riding all across the board in our society. “Sunlight is the best disinfectant for the darker side of our society, so bring back accountability and transparency, expose wrongdoings and fix the cause of all that is stopping us from what we are supposed to be: free and independent.“Let's take the leash off Australia and let it become the best it can be! Make Australia Great Again!”Editor’s note:All candidates in the seat of Parkes were offered the opportunity to be featured on BCB, and were posed the following questions:What are the most pressing opportunities and challenges facing our electorate today, and what role do you see yourself playing in addressing them?Can you give an example of how you have helped others, in the past?What is your top priority – the job you will tackle first - if elected?Describe your own personality and why it would make you the ideal person to form Government?Mr Van Der Steen chose to supply his own questions and answers.