Age: 44
Electorate: Tasmania
Political affiliation: Independent JLN Network
1. Why are you running?
Keep the bastards honest in Canberra – and help fix a number of serious systemic problems - which have developed for Tasmanians and are adversely affecting our state’s prosperity, job creation prospects and community health.
Specifically: the Jobless, our aged pensioners, struggling families, veterans, farmers, manufacturing and forestry industries, Indigenous people, uni students and the sick.
Bottom line: to ensure the voices of every-day Australians are heard in parliament.
2. What do you want to achieve?
I would like to achieve bipartisan agreement to put in place the 'JLN Action Plan for Tasmanian Prosperity, Jobs and Community Health' which will fix the problems and address the issues I noted in my answer to: “Why are you running?”
In addition and with respect to Indigenous policy - reverse the Indigenous disadvantage – the high infant mortality rate, growing gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous mortality rates, and obscene rates of Indigenous youth suicide has not received the parliamentary and public attention they deserve.
3. Is your Aboriginality important in deciding what policies you want to pursue?
Yes, however I stood for the Senate and develop policies that work for a better and more prosperous future – a fair go for all Indigenous and non-Indigenous people not just the privileged and rich.
4. Treaty, Sovereignty or Recognition?
All three principles Treaty, Sovereignty or Recognition are important, however the most effective way to deliver true justice, prosperity and community health for Australia’s Indigenous population is to establish dedicated Indigenous seats in all parliaments.
All legislation, which passes any parliament must be scrutinised and spoken to from an Indigenous perspective in order to (over time) close the gap in Indigenous disadvantage.
Dedicated Indigenous seats in parliament guarantees that legislation is scrutinised and spoken to from an indigenous perspective in a proper and powerful democratic manner - which will unite all Australians and strengthen Indigenous political leadership.
International studies have shown that countries (NZ, Canada, US) which have dedicated Indigenous seats in their parliaments - are performing much better than Australia - and are closing the gap between their Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, while Australia’s worsens.
If three per cent of Australia’s population is Indigenous, then why can’t we have three per cent of our seats in parliament dedicated to Indigenous seats?
New Zealand is a prime example of where dedicated parliamentary seats have been successfully implemented.
Dedicated Indigenous seats in the New Zealand Parliament has existed since 1867, and the gap in the mortality rate between Indigenous and non-Indigenous is much lower than Australia’s.
Note; The gap between Non Maori and Maori disadvantage/mortality is 8.5 years and closing - while Australia’s gap between non indigenous and indigenous disadvantage/mortality is 20 plus years and growing .
5. It’s July 3, the day after the election, and you have been elected, what is the first thing that you want to get a move on?
Begin writing to all members of parliament so that before the opening of the new parliament every elected member and Senator has a copy of the JLN Action Plan for Tasmanian Prosperity, Jobs and Community Health.
I will ask for their support to help put in place my plan. I will also ask for advise and feedback.
My first speech back in the Senate will be about the JLN Action Plan for Tasmanian Prosperity, Jobs and Community Health.
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