As a proud 5th generation farmer from Bute, I grew up immersed in the values that define our regional communities: hard work, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to supporting our families and one another.
There’s an unwritten rule that when times get tough, we stand united; whether that is fighting fires alongside your neighbour, or losing a grand final.
As your experienced, dynamic representative in Canberra – with Bonnie by my side, we would bring the same value-based approach and skills to effectively fight for the issues that matter.
Equity in access to services. Reduced cost of living.
Less bureaucracy. Investment in our regions.
Off-farm, I studied economics and mechanical engineering in Adelaide and England. My subsequent career as a Management Consultant led me interstate and overseas, but every November I came home for harvest.
Advising federal government departments, our biggest companies and their Boards, I honed my problem-solving skills, navigating complex scenarios across mining, technology, agriculture and finance – such as the sale of select BHP mines and the purchase of then-bankrupt Virgin Australia. My strategic advice is always grounded in rigorous analysis and facts, not opinions, not virtue-signalling ideology.
Understanding the interplay of policy and real-world impacts is critical, decisions made in Canberra are felt by our primary producers, our businesses and our families. I will actively listen to you and ensure your voice is heard and respected in Canberra
With leader of the state opposition Hon. Vincent Tarzia and opposition leader in the Senate Hon. Simon Birmingham
Ameliorating non-wetting sands with our new spader
For too long, regional, rural and remote Australians have been illconsidered by city-centric policies; ‘band-aid’ policies that fail to address our challenges. It’s time to bring back the blunt, commonsense approach that our communities are built on. The Albanese government has no respect for the taxpayer, or an understanding of a budget.
We have record taxing and record spending; at the same time, we have devastating inflation and the highest cost of living in our history. Labor is failing us at basic economics and destroying our country’s prosperity. We regional Australians will be forced to pick up the pieces yet again.
We deserve equal access and opportunities in healthcare, education, and growth. Our communities have been forced to accept incredibly low standards. Whether that is the lack of access to basic healthcare on the Eyre Peninsula, un-car-worthy roads on the Yorke Peninsula, the housing crisis all over, or the numerous broken promises made in Whyalla and Port Pirie.
I promise to work with the government, win or lose, to direct federal resources into Grey. Success will be measured by stopping the ‘brain drain’, ensuring the best opportunities for our children’s future are in regional South Australia.
My family’s legacy of public service has shown me the power of community engagement. My great-great-grandfather William Jasper Venning championed rural interests in South Australia and founded organisations that became key parts of the Liberal and Country League. My grandfather Howard and father Max represented farmers through SACBH, coordinated the construction of concrete silos, and expanded international trade respectively. In my generation, my sister Pippa, has excelled in international aid work and as Australia’s diplomat to Timor-Leste.
Inspired by this tradition, I’ve dedicated myself to making a positive difference. I have mentored rural youth and women in technology, developed a mental health app, and volunteered in local sports and firefighting.
With Uncle Ivan Venning, who served 24 years in the South Australia House of Assembly
Inflation is a huge problem for Australia, particularly felt in regional South Australia.
On comparative inflation, Australia is worse than the US, Singapore, Germany, Spain, Japan, the Netherlands, Italy, South Korea, Canada, France, and the entire Euro area.
The reason interest rates have gone up 12 times is because the Government can’t control its spending – and because of its reckless energy policy.
In three Labor Budgets, the Government has lifted spending by a staggering $315 billion – or $30,000 per Australian household.
The Reserve Bank Governor has sounded the alarm on inflation being home-grown.
Every credible economist has issued scathing assessments of Labor’s Budget because Labor has us in an inflationary hole and is still digging.
A Liberal government will deliver a back-to-basics economic plan.
This includes reining in inflationary spending, winding back regulatory roadblocks, lower taxes and more affordable and reliable energy.
Small businesses and primary production are the lifeblood of our regional communities.
Peter Dutton has run a small business. Tom Venning is a farmer and an economist. The Coalition understands small business.
A Liberal and National Government will extend the value of assets eligible for the instant asset write-off to $30,000 and make this ongoing for small businesses.
This will simplify depreciation for millions of small businesses by cutting red tape, boosting investment in productive assets, lowering business costs and prices.
We will also remove the complexity and hostility of Labor’s industrial relations agenda which is putting unreasonable burdens on businesses.
We will revert to the former Coalition Government’s simple definition of a casual worker and create certainty for our 2.5 million small businesses.
Labor’s ‘renewables only’ policy continues to drive-up power prices, felt no greater than here in South Australia.
Electricity and gas prices have gone up by 18 and 25 per cent respectively, and in SA, our power prices are 50% higher than the next highest state.
Renewables have a role to play in our energy system, but we can’t rely on weather-dependent energy alone.
We need power 24/7 – especially in Port Pirie and Whyalla
Australia has three energy goals:
Cheaper power. Consistent power. Cleaner power.
We won’t achieve these goals under Labor’s ‘renewables only’ policy, but we can achieve all three.
By following the other top 20 economies in the world which use zero-emission nuclear power or are taking steps to put it in their mix.
And by ramping-up domestic gas production for affordable and reliable energy in the more immediate term.
You can read more about our plan to secure Australia’s energy and economic future at AustraliaNeedsNuclear.org.au
A Liberal and Nationals Government will restore the number of Medicare-subsidised psychological sessions from 10 to 20 on a permanent basis.
We will invest in best-practice women’s health, including endometriosis.
Concerningly, Australia and particularly rural, regional and remote South Australia face a GP shortage. This is getting worse, predicted to be a gap of some 11,000 by 2031.
We need more GPs.
Junior doctors who enter general practice earn about three-quarters of the salary of their counterparts in hospitals.
Working with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and Australian Medical Association, a Coalition Government will invest $400 million to provide junior doctors who train in general practice with incentive payments, assistance with leave entitlements, and support for pre-vocational training.
We also want better outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
Led by Senators Liddle and Nampijinpa Price, we will provide practical solutions to improve education, health and safety outcomes for indigenous women and children – especially in our most disadvantaged remote communities.
With Bonnie discussing our
campaign plans
With brother James Venning at the farm near Bute
T-Ports discussion with Trevor Cliff, Kimba
When government gets too big, freedom is lost, as more and more people become dependent on handouts. Our debt is unsustainable. Regional Australians know the importance of responsible spending, the same responsibility we teach our children. We must hold all governments and their contractors accountable for overspending on ‘pet projects’, and reduce taxes. I will advocate sound economic practices such as the money multiplier, fight politically motivated spending, and demand costing transparency from the bureaucrats
Regional, rural and remote South Australians must have access to quality healthcare, childcare, and education. There is a severe GP shortage across our clinics and hospitals, while Grey has the worst access to childcare in Australia. This reality drives my commitment to improving essential services so we can get on with our lives. The government’s failure in national health reform negotiations is literally killing us. I will continue to advocate for the commonsense solutions that our regional doctors and health professionals are calling for, reducing unnecessary red tape and outdated mandates
Primary industries are the backbone of our economy. We provide the nation with minerals, food, fibre and energy, and we will for generations. As an economist and a 5th generation farmer, I know the importance of protecting these industries from inequitable taxes and unfair climate policy. Our livelihoods are under attack with taxes such as the farmer-paid biosecurity levy on consumer goods, and restrictions such as the ban on live sheep exports. Regional South Australia has so much potential: we must not trash it with red tape and unfair taxes
Before the current Labor government, the federal government funded 80% of South Australia’s regional road upgrades. Albanese has cut this to 50% and investment has stopped. Surrounding our farm at Bute, some roads are not ‘car worthy’, while billions are being spent on city tunnels, city bridges and city train stations.
