Community pre-selection to be held for independent candidate for Morwell
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Version 0 of 1. Former independent MP Tony Windsor says the decision by a local group to run a plebiscite to choose an independent candidate for the Victorian seat of Morwell is clever, and has similarities with the seat of Indi, won in an upset by independent Cathy McGowan at the federal election. Latrobe Valley 1st has announced that a ballot paper with the names of three people who have nominated will be sent to every voter in the electorate ahead of the state elections in November. It would be up to voters to select the candidate, a process the group believes will be unique in Australian politics. Latrobe Valley 1st president Gilio Barbara said 16-year-olds would also be able to vote for who they wanted to stand, as would refugees who live in the electorate but who may not be Australian citizens. “We don’t want to dictate to the people who should be representing them. We want something completely different,” he said. Morwell is emerging as an intriguing contest, a test of the depth of the disillusionment with major political parties. The dynamics of the seat, held comfortably by the Nationals’ Russell Northe, shifted after the Hazelwood coal mine fire earlier this year blanketed the town of Morwell with ash and smoke for 45 days. An inquiry released last week found regulatory failures and poor communication during the fire. It also criticised mine operator GDF Suez for failing to prepare for what it regarded as a foreseeable event. Windsor has spoken often of a deficit of trust in Australians politics and the need for alternatives to the major party system. He said Morwell had some similarities with the federal seat of Indi, where the independent Cathy McGowan defeated Liberal frontbencher Sophie Mirabella after a grassroots campaign to engage local people about political issues. “The movement was there before the candidate, and that sounds a little bit similar to Indi,” said Windsor. “There’s a bit of politics in it [the plebiscite], but it’s not overly cute, it’s clever. “It flags that there’s a significant group of people presumably that aren’t happy and who are asking the question, ‘If you’re not happy here’s a different way, get involved. If you are happy well just lie back and accept what’s given to you.’” The people who have nominated to be the Latrobe Valley 1st candidate are David Wakefield, 36, Tracie Lund, 42 and Hilde Rombout. Voting closes on 29 September. |