The deputy leader of the Science Party has announced his intention to contest an Eden-Monaro byelection.
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James Jansson has a PhD in the mathematical modelling of HIV epidemiology, and is currently a senior developer for a company that makes hospital roster software.
He said he is standing for increased funding for science and medical research; a "substantially more compassionate" welfare system; action on climate change that affects drought, fires, and the snow season, all of which impact Eden-Monaro; and economic stimulus through nation-building projects such as high-speed rail, building a new regional city and improving the NBN.
"I'm running in this election because it is one of the most important of our generation," Dr Jansson said.
"Years of cuts to science, cuts to the welfare system and misplaced national security laws are actively being put to the test right now. The Liberal Party's status quo for running the country has been shown to be inhumane and insufficient, and the Labor Party has found itself to be an uninspiring opposition.
"This election will be fought on policies, not personality.
"The Science Party is committed to providing a welfare system that ensures a minimum standard of living for people. We're also committed to spending up big on science - while $180billion is budgeted for stimulus, only $350million is currently budgeted for vaccine development. That's less than 0.2 per cent of the economic response dedicated to a cure.
"We can and should be doing more on that front to get back to normal."
Dr Jansson said the Science Party has long-standing nation-building plans "that are more relevant than ever", especially for the people of Eden-Monaro.
"We are proposing a high-speed rail line from Sydney to Melbourne, passing through Canberra. The construction of this rail line will provide an enormous amount of employment opportunities that will inevitably benefit people in the region.
"We're also proposing at least one new city built along that train line, which will likely be in the seat of Eden-Monaro, once again giving the people of the region the employment boost they need.
"And we need a better NBN, to ensure that remote working can work smoothly."
The Science Party's commitment to action on climate change was also something Dr Jansson said Eden-Monaro could benefit from more than any other electorate.
"From the drought that hurt farmers in the region, fires that swept all the way to the coast and rising temperatures that threaten the economy of the snow fields.
"We want a target of up to 800 per cent renewable energy. We'll produce more renewable energy than we use domestically, to ensure stability of supply provided through renewables. Excess energy can be used to create energy-rich value-added exports like ore processing.
"Coupled with our whole-of-economy pricing mechanism for carbon emissions, we'll act quicker and much more strongly on climate change than any other party in Australia."
While a date for the Eden-Monaro byelection is yet to be called, a number of people have made public their intentions to stand.
Labor has preselected Bega Valley councillor Kristy McBain and Dignams Creek farmer and businesswoman Fiona Kotvojs was easily the favourite of Liberal Party members at a weekend internal vote.
Liberal Democrat Dean McCrae, coordinator of the party's southern districts branch, has also entered the fray, as has independent Andrew Thaler, a solar farm developer from Nimmitabel.
Bredbo businesswoman Karen Porter is also running as an independent under the banner of newly formed group The New Liberals.
The Christian Democratic Party has endorsed Cobargo's Narelle Storey as their representative