|
.
Queensland
Independent Candidates
The results of the
Australian Federal Election held on 9 October 2004, again highlighted the
inequality and discriminatory nature of current Legislation under which the
Australian Electoral Commission must conduct Federal Elections.
Australian men and women of
integrity, seeking election as Independents, and whose SOLE aim is to improve
the 'quality of life' of their fellow Australians, are treated with contempt by
the entrenched two-party system.
The reason?
Because Independents,
supported by their fellow Australians, are concerned at the direction in which
Australia is being driven by the party politicians, who are, undoubtedly, controlled
by the non-elected hierarchy of their chosen 'party machine'.
Australia's two-party
preferred, compulsory and preferential voting system, has been manipulated into
being the instrument that guarantees the major parties as being the only holders
of POWER.
Independents are NOT
interested in power. Independents are ONLY interested in PEOPLE.
Independent candidates for the House of
Representatives and the Senate, contesting the next Federal election, now have
the opportunity to access electoral research material, exchange ideas and,
discuss common concerns of their respective electorates.
The Federal candidates have now been
joined by a number of State and Local government Independent candidates.
Credible Independents, when elected, will
have the added advantage of collectively 'representing the expressed majority will' of their
electorates on issues of common ground, following a clear indication from fellow
Australians, that the political parties have 'little regard' or
‘accountability’ to the Australian people.
 | There is a
clear feeling of distrust and scepticism towards the political party
machines.
|
| There is a
responsible and viable alternative in voting for an Independent.
|
| The 'party
policy line' or bowing to 'party pressure' will NOT be a consideration to
the electorate by casting a vote for an Independent. |
We are all too aware that the Queensland
political party's branch executive comes under pressure from influences
emulating from their party's hierarchy based in southern states, hence
Queensland tends to be regarded as being backward or a political backwater.
Independents will change that.
An
Independent has one, and only one, responsibility... to ensure that the
expressed majority 'WILL of the PEOPLE' of his or her Electorate, is conveyed to the Government of
the day, without fear or favour.
Independents have the prerequisite of
total flexibility without the constraints of the party structure.
Independents
Parliamentary Representatives have many advantages, being the only sensible
alternative to the ageing party system, for the following reasons:
 |
Credible
Independents are
representatives of their community NOT
the representatives of a political party
|
|
Credible
Independents are
infinitely more responsive and flexible to the will of the people
|
|
Credible
Independents are more
aware and in-tune with the issues affecting the community than candidates
representing political parties
|
|
Credible
Independents are
regarded by communities as being the sensible alternative to discredited
political parties
|
|
Credible
Independents are
unencumbered by the dictates of the party structure or the directives of
the party-machine
|
So-called
disadvantages of an Independent
The
major parties drag out the same tired old
denouncing that there
are three (3) perceived concerns with electing an Independent,
which are:
-
Does
the Independent candidate have the ability to perform, and, is he or
she a genuine Independent?
-
Is
the Independent candidate merely a stooge (or front)
for one of the major parties?
-
What
can an Independent do?
Concerns
1) and 2) are easily determined by a close appraisal of the candidate’s
background and stated strategies on issues, as would be revealed by pre-election
public scrutiny, media releases, and responses to electorate questions.
The
third is the most important... and the most controversial.
Non-aligned
Independent Parliamentary Representatives have exactly the same responsibilities
as party politicians, responsibilities that they perform in most instances, more
competently than the party politicians.
Why?
Because the community expects a
better performance from Independents!
New
South Wales Independent, Ted Mack, prior to retiring from Federal Parliament in
1993 made known his opposition to “fundamentalist economic rationalism;
unilateral tariff removal policies; the sale of taxpayer assets; the sale of the
Commonwealth Bank; the GST; the nuclear industry and limitations on free
speech“.
New
South Wales Independent, Peter Andren, since being elected to the Federal
Parliament in 1996 has also made political history by introducing two (2)
'Private Member Bills' to have the Parliamentary Superannuation Scheme
drastically reduced.
Tasmanian
Independent Brian Harradine has secured more Federal funding than any other
Australian party politician… because he is an Independent!
The
major parties are paranoid over the successes of credible Independents, as it is
the Independent parliamentary representatives who are seen by the electorate as
being conscientious in their
diligence
toward the issues that affect them.
Can
an Independent work for you… ABSOLUTELY!
| 
