THE Australian Greens will officially launch Jess Whittaker as the Greens candidate for the federal electorate of Cunningham. 

Cunningham was the first seat the Greens won in the lower house of the Federal parliament, which Labor regained, but momentum is shifting. 

At the last Federal Election, the Greens gained a 6.6% swing—and now, with Wollongong City councillor and community advocate Jess Whittaker leading the charge, the Greens believe a breakthrough is within reach.

With a record of fighting for climate action, affordable housing, and better public services, Ms Whittaker says she is ready to deliver a “people-powered representation Cunningham deserves”.

The Federal Election comes as the cost-of-living crisis deepens, locking an entire generation out of financial security, as millions of people across the country struggle under the weight of student debt.

In Cunningham alone, almost 23,000 residents are burdened by student debt — 61 per cent of them are women and 70 per cent are under the age of 35. The student debt owed by Cunningham residents is a staggering $637 million, with an average debt of $28,000. 

The Greens have pushed the Labor Government to deliver student debt relief since they came to power, and they say the pressure has worked in securing changes to indexation as well as recent commitments to raise the minimum repayment income and cut student debt by 20 per cent after the election.

The Greens’ plan to wipe all student debt, part of the party’s ‘Robin Hood’ reforms, will be paid for by taxing big corporations and billionaires.

Under the plan, the Greens say for someone who has an average student debt ($27,600) and who earns an average income, resulting in a saving of $5,500 a year (Greens estimates based on ATO withholding rates) – enough to cover more than six months’ worth of groceries. 

The Greens says their plan for dental into Medicare will ensure that everyone who holds a Medicare card will be able to access the essential dental services they need for free.

“I’m excited and proud to be standing as the Greens candidate for Cunningham,”  Ms Whittaker said.

“This community means everything to me — I grew up in Bulli, I work here, and like so many locals, I’m juggling the pressures of raising a family while facing the relentless cost-of-living crisis.

“For too long, wages have stagnated, while the cost of essentials keeps skyrocketing. Our once world-class public services—healthcare, education, and social services—are crumbling. It’s not just disappointing, it’s unacceptable. Cunningham deserves better.

“This election, we have a real opportunity to tackle the student debt crisis by wiping HECS debt—giving relief to thousands of people in Cunningham and putting money back into our local economy.

“We also can’t afford to wait for expensive and dangerous nuclear energy, or for this government to stop rubber-stamping new coal and gas projects. The time to act on climate is now. Australia has enormous potential to lead the world in renewables —we need to seize it.

“If you want real change, you need to vote for a candidate who will fight for you—not corporate donors or billionaires.” 

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