by Keith Anderson
Independent candidate for Monash Deb Leonard wants to be part of an independents' crossbench holding balance of power in the next federal government.

In her second campaign for the seat and before about 120 supporters that packed the Drouin Hub on Sunday morning, Ms Leonard said her "policy priorities" were to restore common sense, integrity, financial accountability and evidence-based policy as the foundations of governing and her representation of the electorate.
Spending must be targeted to where it was needed, there should be no "pork barrelling," political donations and lobbying be made transparent and the Anti-Corruption Commission strengthened, she said.
"I'm announcing my integrity policy first because it is the critical foundation for better outcomes for communities - no matter what the issue.
"Integrity isn't just about cleaning up politics - it's about building a foundation to ensure decisions are made fairly and transparently, and in the best interests of the community," she said.
Ms Leonard, who has been on the campaign trail in Monash for the past five months with campaign caravan in tow, said local people wanted to be heard and taken notice of and receive the funding the electorate deserves and needs.
A new West Gippsland Hospital was a high priority.
"The fact that it is primarily a state government responsibility does not mean the federal government cannot provide funding for it; a couple of other independents in the outgoing parliament were able to gain federal funds for new hospitals in their electorates.
"It is the number one issue raised by Baw Baw Shire residents but we are going nowhere with it. I will work with both sides of politics, state and federal, to get it built," Ms Leonard stated.
She said she would announce more policies progressively on key issues such as cost of living, housing shortages, climate and roads over the coming months leading to the election, a date for which has yet to be announced by the prime minister.
Ms Leonard said she had already held many meetings with representative groups across Monash to hear their concerns and needs, including farmers, businesses, shopkeepers and the general community as well as compiling and analysing local research data.
Sunday's meeting was told she and her supporters had already knocked on 3400 doors in the electorate to listen to people's needs of government and planned to knock 20,000 doors by the time the election is held.
Teams formed at the meeting on Sunday were targeting to make some 600 of those extra door knocks in Drouin that day.A choir of volunteers also performed outside Woolworths as Ms Leonard handed out flyers to passers by.
Ms Leonard polled 10,372 first preference votes at the 2022 election, the third highest of eight candidates, only trailing the Liberal and Australian Labor Party votes.
Analysis conducted for her indicates that a win in Monash this year, after preferences are distributed, could be possible if she can receive an extra 8000 primary votes over what was achieved in 2022.
"As an independent, my job is to listen to locals and take their concerns to Canberra, not to toe a party line," Ms Leonard said. "The major parties have taken Monash for granted as a safe seat for too long. It's time we had a representative who puts our community first."