THE Federal Election is no longer expected to be called this Sunday, March 9, as anticipated with all emphasis on Cyclone Alfred crossing the coast in south east Queensland.
In fact Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out an April election and will hand down a budget on March 25.
Piece of trivia: According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) they were going to name this latest tropical storm ‘Cyclone Anthony’ from a list of approved names in alphabetical order but given the political situation, opted for ‘Alfred’ instead.
As much as Mr Albanese is holding off on making it official, it has been “game on” for the main combatants in the unofficial campaign for quite some weeks now.
Locally, in the electorate of Monash, independent Deb Leonard and the Liberals’ Mary Aldred, have been the most active, most visible candidates in the field.
They’ve been out and about meeting and talking to the people of the electorate for months and in recent weeks, there’s been a real sign war going on with the two candidates placing opposing advertising signs directly opposite each other at several locations.
As well as the signs, Ms Leonard has painted up a retro caravan with her photo and messages, doing the rounds at announcements and community events.
Expect everything from corflutes in residential streets to signwriting in the sky as the campaign hots up.
Candidates that have already declared their intention to contest the seat of Monash include:
- Mary Aldred Liberal
- Deb Leonard Independent
- Russell Broadbent Independent
- Tully Fletcher Labor
- Terence Steele Greens
- Robert Durkacz, Independent
The Nationals, Trumpet of Patriots (UAP), Pauline Hansons One Nation and several others are expected to nominate for the seat of Monash, where the result is expected to go well into the preference count after the sitting member Russell Broadbent, the former Liberal candidate now independent MP, decided to nominate after being passed over for preselection in favour of Ms Aldred.
Ahead of the election announcement, expected to come later this month now, we’ve asked all of the candidates to ‘state their case’ in 150 words as an opening gambit.
We’ll publish them as soon as we get them.
With the Prime Minister ruling out going to the polls on April 12 and both April 19 (Easter) and April 26 (Anzac weekend) ruled out because millions of people will be away from home, it's now likely the government will have to hand down a Federal Budget on Tuesday, March 25, leaving open an election on any Saturday in May 3, 10 or 17 the last day an election can be called.
Deb Leonard, Independent
The major parties are no longer representing everyday people in our community. Our regional and rural electorate has been ignored for decades when it comes to funding for roads, health services and infrastructure.
I’m running as an independent for Monash because we deserve better representation. As a lawyer, small business owner and working mum, I have spent my life entrenched in our local community, and I’ve seen where we’re missing out.
Policies should be formed by the people of the community, not career politicians. I’ve been listening to people all across the electorate about the issues that are important to them, and that feedback has directly shaped my policies.
I am focused on meaningful action to address rising grocery prices and household bills, to ensuring everyone can afford a home, and to greater investment in our region.
As an independent I can work with both sides of politics to get common sense solutions that suit our community.
Russell Broadbent, Independent
People are fed up with ‘the government’ telling them what to say, think or do.
Whether it’s Labor or Liberal, an ever-increasing number of people are feeling let down and have lost trust in the major parties.
Every day I engage with people from across Monash who can’t comprehend how they work so hard, yet still struggle to make ends meet.
I am here to give a voice to the fed up and disillusioned and to hold government account – especially where they’re spending hard-earned taxpayer dollars.
I’m running as an Independent and funding my own grassroots campaign – that is, I am not accepting any donations.
As a true independent, not beholden to any party, group or individual, I can achieve more for the people of Monash.
Mary Aldred, Liberal
Our communities are feeling the cost-of-living pinch. Everything is so much more expensive now than it was three years ago, when Labor and Anthony Albanese came to government. As I’m meeting people across the electorate of Monash, they’re telling me that they can’t afford three more years of Labor.
As a member of the Dutton Liberal team, I’m determined to deliver what matters to our community. Investment in roads infrastructure, that repairs crumbling roads and gets traffic moving again through bottlenecks across our communities. Reliable and affordable energy that helps lower our cost of living. Affordable homes that supports families. Safer communities, with tougher knife and tighter bail laws.
As founding CEO of the Committee for Gippsland, and chair of the Gippsland United Basketball League, I’ve worked with local families to secure a better deal and stand up for our region.
Together, we can get Australia back on track. A vote for anyone else at this election risks three more years of Labor.
Tully Fletcher, Labor
Hi, I’m Tully. I grew up here and I live here with my partner Dani and our two kids, Daph and Ted.
After 20 years of failed federal representation by Liberals and independents, the time for talk and empty promises is over. We need a new federal MP who’ll get things done.
As part of the team in a re-elected Albanese Labor Government, I’ll ensure everyone in Monash can see a bulk-billed GP, access cheaper medicines, afford housing, and drive on safe roads.
We’ll finish the NBN, end mobile blackspots, deliver the three-day childcare guarantee, and continue Labor’s responsible economic plan to support household budgets, get inflation and interest rates down, and protect jobs and wages.
And I’ll work hard to deliver the investment in services and infrastructure we’ve been needing and missing as our communities have grown and grown.
With your support, I’ll get things done for Monash.
More to follow (as they are submitted by the candidates)
Robert Durkacz, Independent
I am a single-issue candidate for the western alliance. The American people have become dangerously erratic and without necessarily wishing to, they are vandalising their own democracy and the western alliance with it.
Our political leaders should reach out to the American people to have more respect for themselves. They should have done so in 2020 when Trump falsely claimed that their electoral process was corrupted. Since none of the candidates will take up this issue, I feel I must run. It is easy to find people in the street who understand the historical importance of the moment. I give them a way to use their vote accordingly.
At the same time, I hope to promote discussion forums that the candidates and voters can take part in. This is not a council election. It is not about dog parks. If we can have proper forums, we can move past silly election advertising and look at the real problems.
