STEPHEN JONES

STEPHEN Jones is the current member for Whitlam and is running for re-election.

He said there were three priorities for the Southern Highlands - healthcare, education and employment.

"Medicare is a national priority, but it affects everyone in the Southern Highlands, access to affordable healthcare is critical," Mr Jones said.

"On education, we need to invest in our schools, TAFEs and universities.

"In the Highlands 74 per cent of people had unreliable internet connection, and this must improve.

"Too many people in the area also struggle to get adequate phone reception at work and at home."

Mr Jones said he had delivered results to the region, and that he wanted to continue to support the community.

"I'll fight to improve broadband through the NBN and ensure that we look after the most disadvantaged in the community," he said.

"The government has built expectations about improving 'black spot' coverage but many communities continue to miss out.

"I'll be putting the communications needs of the bush front and centre."

JAN MANDELSON

JAN Mandelson is the Nationals candidate for Whitlam.

There were three main areas that Mrs Mandelson said she wanted to focus on in the Highlands.

"The roads are in desperate need of upgrading," she said.

"There is currently an additional $560,000,000 available under the Roads to Recovery Program which I intend to ensure are made available for the Southern Highlands.

"I also will continue to lobby hard for more funds for the Bowral and District Hospital.

"The youth unemployment is currently running almost double in the Southern Highlands, which I believe attributes to youth mental health issues and youth suicide."

Mrs Mandelson said Whitlam voters should consider her as she was a local.

"I am local and, unlike the current sitting member who has taken this area for granted, I feel that it is time for a change."

MARCUS HEWITT

MARCUS Hewitt is the Liberal candidate for Whitlam.

Mr Hewitt said he felt he could make a "positive difference" for the people of Whitlam.

"This area has been taken for granted by Labor since the seat's inception because it was deemed a 'safe' Labor seat," he said.

"I'm a strong Liberal alternative and want to be a champion for the people of Whitlam."

Mr Hewitt said, if elected, he would "fight" to ensure the "prosperity and natural amenity" of the Southern Highlands.

"I will specifically be a champion to reduce youth unemployment and to increase small business growth and opportunities," he said.

Mr Hewitt is a 54-year-old small businessman who owns a wildflower and cattle farm in the Southern Highlands.

TOM HUNT

TOM Hunt is the Greens candidate for Whitlam.

Mr Hunt entered politics six weeks ago after he retired from his paid job, but said he had studied the issue of climate change for many years.

"I have become extremely concerned by what it means for our future, and even more concerned that we were doing so little, so late, to combat it," he said.

Mr Hunt said he felt issues such as TAFE, expensive tertiary education, unaffordable housing, high homelessness, the increasing gap between the rich and poor, "demonisation and abuse" of refugees, and the "trashing" of the environment and prime farmland weren't being focused on enough.

"I hope we can transition away from harmful fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. To move to electric vehicles sourced from solar energy, industry and agriculture powered wherever possible from the sun and wind, home PV and battery systems supporting a green electricity grid," he said.

"All of these things are being ignored by the Coles and Woolies of politics."

WAYNE HARTMAN

WAYNE Hartman is the Non-Custodial Parents Party (Equal Parenting) candidate for Whitlam.

Mr Hartman entered politics in 2010, after he and his wife divorced.

"After talking to a lot of people, and not seeing my children, I decided to do something about changing the family law and child support legislation, so I got into politics," he said.

"I chose the Equal Parenting party because people in the party had gone through similar experiences like mine."

Mr Hartman said his plans for the Southern Highlands included improvement to public transport, to make sure no coal seam gas projects would start in the area, and to ensure land would not be sold to foreign countries.

"I've also been made aware of other problems in the electorate of Whitlam such as the high unemployment rate," he said. "There are a lot of people in the Southern Highlands that have gone through divorce and don't see their children, and grandchildren and children not seeing their parents and family members."

Mr Hartman is a resident of Blackbutt, near Shellharbour, and is a mechanical tradesman at BlueScope Steel in Port Kembla.

SUSAN PINSUTI

SUSAN Pinsuti is the Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile group) (CDP) candidate for Whitlam.

She said she became involved with politics after "the Holy Spirit led me to be involved".

"I gave my life to Christ at Bowral Uniting Church when I was about seven years old," she said.

"I got involved with politics with the goal of getting laws and attitudes changed, and to give the goodness of God to all people, especially the marginalised people in Australia."