FAMILY First candidate for Dawson Amanda Nickson is fed up with the major parties.

"And the Family First party has values and priorities that fit well with my personal values," she said.

"Something needs to change in the political system."

A social worker for 30 years and a mother of three, Ms Nickson said jobs and affordable housing were important issues.

On the employment front, Ms Nickson said the Abbot Point Coal Terminal expansion would provide opportunities for locals.

"And I think if it's managed well there shouldn't be any negative impacts on the environment," she said.

"So it's a great opportunity to increase employment."

She said it was hard for young families to afford their own home, aiming to ease this burden.

"And that includes the releasing of land because I think it's the cost of land that's limiting access to housing affordability for a lot of young couples," Ms Nickson said.

As the debate over coral bleaching, and by extension climate change, continues, Ms Nickson said we need a united approach to deal with the issue.

"It's something that really needs action, but it's a much bigger issue than just a local issue," she said.

"To me it's related to global warming and that's not something that the Whitsundays can do something about.

"It would have to have a whole country, a whole government, approach around taking on a global warming strategy."