Vasse Poll: Independent's focus on youth, elderly, teachers

Independent Vasse candidate Teresa van Lieshout says youth unemployment and the welfare and wellbeing of the elderly are her priorities for the electorate.

The 43-year-old, who made national headlines when she announced her intention to campaign in the October 18 by-election on YouTube wearing a bikini and fishing, has contested the last three political elections.

"Political funding must go to community groups to create jobs," Ms van Lieshout said.

"The idea is to create grants; a total of 200 grants of $250,000 accessible to small business and community groups on the condition that they'd have to create three jobs. That would create 600 jobs in the electorate."

The registered teacher, who said she has a Master's degree in Education and has published four books of nonfiction literature, would also change the Teacher Registration Act 2012.

"Often the teacher doesn't have enough say in what's happening in the school," she said.

"(I'd campaign for) level three teachers to run schools, so they're making decisions and controlling the budgets.

"Another priority for me is the teaching and speaking of English in the classroom."

Ms van Lieshout said the English language was under threat from the promotion of children's native languages at kindergarten level and schools should fly the Australian flag, sing the national anthem and pray in schools to sustain the Australian identity and way of life.

"It has a lot to do with the well-being and health in our nation," she said.

Ms van Lieshout said promoting stronger national identity would go a way toward addressing mental health problems.

She would also like to change the Fines Enforcement Act 1994 which she said was causing extreme economic hardship to voters.

"It's causing car clamping throughout the South West which is causing stress to people … and its caused deprivation of liberty in the thousands," Ms van Lieshout said.

"If I win this seat I will register a new parliamentary party, the Voter Rights Party. All the others are corrupt."

Born in Mundijong, Ms van Lieshout is a single woman and is one of nine children.

Outside of politics she loves the outdoors, camping, fishing and sport.

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