Independent candidate search – Voices for Durack

Seeking an independent candidate for Durack

Voices for Durack is seeking an ethical, electable person to run as an independent candidate for Durack in the next federal election.

Durack deserves a representative who is wholeheartedly focused on the wellbeing of Durack’s people, now and in the future.

Durack deserves a caring, courageous, creative representative who is free from the constraints of a political party; who finds common ground in diverse communities.

Durack deserves a representative who embodies the values of respect, inclusion, and integrity, whose every vote in Australia’s Parliament on our behalf will be a conscience vote.

Are you a potential candidate?

The qualities we’re looking for are below. If this is you, please contact us.

Beliefs

You believe:

in the restoration of integrity in both government and the process of government.
that intergenerational equity and the fact of the interconnectedness of everything must be built into all government decisions and actions.
that the goals of government should include to do no harm; to identify the needs of current and future generations and help enable these needs to be met. This includes respecting and caring for all that gives us life and enables civilisation to progress in a healthy way.
that the activities of government should include – to identify, and accurately and fully describe problems that need solving; to notice and seek good ideas and effective solutions; to notice and look for barriers, ineffective ‘solutions’, or outdated ideas, and help them get left behind, updated, or replaced; and to nurture democracy, honest and respectful relationships at every level, and a shared and accurate sense of reality.

Abilities

You:

find and highlight common ground: you ‘build bridges’.
are capable of systems-thinking and multi-solving.
can courageously, carefully, and constructively lead challenging conversations about topics that are often left in the too-hard basket.
can inspire positive change and inspire people.
are an excellent, clear communicator.
notice and effectively challenge (when appropriate) false dichotomies and unhelpful divisions (eg economy and jobs versus the environment, left versus right).
have the ability to grow the appeal and support in Durack’s many communities for the role of ‘community-minded and community-endorsed independent representative’, and yourself as a candidate.
have the ability to assemble a staff and volunteer team with local and expert knowledge to assist with your campaign and with your work as Durack’s representative if you are elected.

Attributes

You:

are a Durack resident who is attracted to this role from a sense of vocation and service, not a career.
are humble and know this role is not about you, it’s about the community, therefore you have a strong desire to build further and more diverse community support in Durack for the office of ‘community-minded and community-endorsed representative’ to help enable the passing on of the baton in due course.
cultivate a scout mindset (in yourself and others) and can point to public examples demonstrating it.
are creative, caring, and courageous.
have respect for – and the motivation and ability to access – local and expert knowledge.
appreciate the challenges and opportunities of distance and are open to finding and advocating unique solutions for Durack.

NB

We ask that you please:

read the AEC Handbook and ensure you meet all the requirements.
sign and act in accordance with The Ethics Centre’s politician’s pledge.
know that although you will be responsible for running and fundraising for your own campaign, please know that you don’t have to campaign and represent Durack alone, and indeed, that you can’t represent Durack well if you attempt to do it alone. Diverse community networks in Durack can be your support group, your resource, your dream team. We suggest that you read Cathy Goes to Canberra by Cathy McGowan and Get Elected by Ruth McGowan.
note that Voices for Durack’s endorsed independent candidate must not do preference deals or suggest preferences on their how-to-vote card.

Could someone you know be a potential independent candidate?

Please share this page with them, and contact us to get involved or learn more.

FAQs

Who is on the selection committee? Why should they have that authority?

The selection committee is currently made up of members from the Voices for Durack movement which is seeking ethical, accountable, and effective representation in the federal seat of Durack. The movement is not exclusive and anyone who wants to see integrity in government is welcome and encouraged to join us.

The selection committee consists of a group of people who hail from across the wide and wonderful electorate of Durack. At present it is Dale Park, Philip Gardiner, Martin Jackson King, Richard and Elisabeth McLellan, and Christie Kingston. Together, their lived experiences cover a diverse range of topics including agriculture, politics and law, disability, education, health, indigenous affairs, mining, mental health, parenthood, small and large business, the environment, volunteering and governance, international affairs, state, local and agricultural politics, and the arts.

As the Voices for Durack movement develops and grows in diversity, so too will the number and diversity of people involved in finding and selecting Durack’s independent candidate.

What’s the benefit of voting independent?

It is the role of an independent in federal parliament to represent their electorate and achieve the best results from government for their constituents. Independents are able to vote according to their beliefs and the will of their electorate, whereas members who belong to political parties are bound by the ideology and expectations of their party and potentially any outside influences of the party.

Independent members of parliament take part in debate on government bills and they can introduce their own bills, which the parliament can choose to debate. Introducing a private bill enables an independent to suggest a new law on an issue that they and their electorate think is important or that they believe the parliament is not addressing.

Although an independent has yet to be welcomed into the government of the day, they can still effectively represent their community. Independents are often in a position to hold the balance of power when a vote is taken in parliament. When this happens, the government will likely negotiate with the independent member or members in an attempt to ensure their support.

Who will the endorsed candidate preference on their how-to-vote card?

Our endorsed candidate will not do preference deals. They will not suggest preferences on their how-to-vote card, except to ask for voters’ first vote and ask them to number the rest of the boxes according to their own choice, and in line with what the ballot paper requires for a valid vote.

What are your policy positions?

Voices for Durack’s goals are simple – we want skilled and decent representation in federal parliament that is ethical, accountable, and focussed on the enduring wellbeing of people. This includes integrity in government, and caring for the things that give us life.

The candidate that is endorsed by the selection committee will be free from the constraints of the party system and will form their own policies that will reflect the goals and values of Voices for Durack and the concerns of our electorate.

Where will your candidates’ fundraising money come from?

The independent that we endorse will be responsible for fundraising their own monies. The donations our endorsed independent may receive, like any political party, may come from individual members of the public, organisations, and small or large businesses.

Unlike the major parties, however, the origin of all fundraising monies raised by our endorsed independent will be completely transparent and accounted for. To retain our endorsement our independent will, on a quarterly basis, disclose the name and amount of every donation above $1000 including smaller donations from the one donor that add up to more than $1000. Large donations above $14,500 will be disclosed within five days.

I want ethical, effective, independent representation for Durack in our federal parliament.
How can I help?

Great! Thank you.

If you’d like to support and/or volunteer with us, please contact us, ensuring first that you’re happy to take the volunteers’ pledge (on our contact page).