Australia's newest senator wants to get rid of the national curriculum for schools, ramp up support for Israel and reinstate caps on government spending.
In his maiden speech to parliament on Wednesday, Liberal senator James Paterson admitted he didn't fit the Liberal "caricature".
The 28-year-old is from a traditional Labor-voting family of long-term union members, and wants to bring back the commonwealth debt ceiling - a policy introduced by former Labor treasurer Wayne Swan and abolished by the Abbott government.
Instead of increasing debt with no end in sight, the default setting should instead cap commonwealth debt unless the government of the day can justify an increase, he believes.
Senator Paterson, who replaces retired veteran senator Michael Ronaldson, has vowed to use his time in the upper house to fight for the Liberal values of free speech, free markets, federalism and personal responsibility.
He wants Australia to do more to demonstrate its solidarity with Israel, by moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which Israel asserts is its capital city.
"The Israeli government have demonstrated time and time again that they are the best custodians for the religious and historical sites that are of significance to people of many faiths.
"I don't believe that the international community can continue to refuse to recognise their capital city of choice and the clear reality on the ground."
He also took aim at the national curriculum taught in schools, labelling it unbalanced and left-leaning and insisting parents should be able to choose what their children learn.
Instead of a national curriculum, the federal government should license competing private curricula that conform to basic minimum standards.
"This will not only allow schools and parents to select a curriculum which reflects their values, but would also open up the school system to much more diversity, specialisation and choice."
