Transparency, Responsible Spending and Results

Public money should deliver public value — and governments should explain what they promised, what they spent and what they achieved.

Residents are regularly presented with funding announcements, project commitments and political claims. But an announcement is not the same as a completed project, and a budget allocation does not automatically prove that the money was spent effectively.

Footscray needs a representative who will ask questions, examine the evidence and keep residents informed.

My priorities

1. Scrutinise public spending

I will examine significant government spending and local funding announcements, asking whether the objectives are clear, the costs are justified and the expected public benefits can be assessed.

Where information is available, I will compare announced commitments with actual delivery and outcomes.

2. Ask questions when projects fall behind

When a significant project is delayed, its cost increases or a commitment is not delivered, I will seek an explanation from the responsible minister or agency.

Residents deserve to know what changed, why it changed and what steps are being taken to address the problem.

3. Make commitments easier to track

I will work to maintain public updates on significant local issues I pursue, including the commitments made by responsible authorities, the responses received and any outstanding questions.

Where a matter cannot be resolved, I will explain why rather than implying that it has been fixed.

4. Explain decisions in plain English

Government decisions can be difficult to follow. I will aim to explain their practical implications for residents, including costs, benefits, limitations and who is responsible for the next step.

Where the evidence is incomplete or a decision remains unresolved, I will say so.

5. Be accountable for my own work

Accountability must apply to elected representatives as well as governments. If elected, I will report on the issues I have pursued, the responses I have received and the progress made.

I will distinguish between actions I have taken and outcomes that depend on ministers, departments, councils or other decision-makers.

What I can realistically do as an MP

An independent MP can scrutinise government decisions, ask questions in Parliament, engage with ministers and agencies, advocate for constituents and make public information easier to understand.

An MP cannot guarantee that every request will be accepted, every project will proceed or every problem will be solved. Parliamentary processes, government decisions and legal responsibilities impose real limits.

I will not claim credit for results I did not deliver, or present an unanswered request as a completed outcome.

How residents can hold me accountable

If elected, I will work to provide regular public updates that identify:

• The significant issues I have raised.
• The responsible authority and its response.
• Commitments or actions announced and their current status.
• Unresolved issues and the next steps I intend to pursue.

My commitment: I will ask questions, follow up, explain the results and be honest about what has — and has not — been achieved.

Hai Dinh
Independent Candidate for Footscray
Safety. Opportunity. Community.