Just one more sleep until the big day.

Thanks to your support and the hard work of almost 2,200 volunteers now, we have run a campaign that has shaken up the race for the ACT Senate like never before.

I’m so grateful to everyone who has contributed, especially those who’ve handed out how-to-vote cards as record numbers of people attended pre-poll over the past fortnight and signed up for shifts tomorrow.

We’ve gone out there and spoken to thousands of Canberrans. We’ve really listened, to your needs, your hopes and your ambitions.

Together we’ve built a movement of people, a sense of positivity and hope, a belief that we can make politics better than the bitter and divisive bickering, outright lies and endless rorts we are all so tired of.

We can make politics about people again.

Our chance to make history

Tomorrow is our chance to alter the course of our city’s future. To make Canberra count. We can make this seat marginal, make it one that the major parties have to fight to win, not ignore or take for granted.

It’s our opportunity to stand up and demand to be counted. To have our voices heard. To demand our fair share of federal funding. To push for pragmatic action on climate that saves households money and protects the people and places we love.

I will fight to restore integrity to politics and hold whoever forms government to account. 

Fighting for equality

The Prime Minister might think it’s ok for us to have fewer rights than the rest of Australia, I don’t. Getting us the right to debate and make laws for ourselves on the issues that matter, like voluntary assisted dying, is something I’ve committed to doing as one of my first acts if elected. It’s not something that can wait.

Protecting our APS

This week we’ve witnessed some extraordinary and deeply unwarranted attacks on our Australian Public Service (APS). 

An announcement by the Coalition to increase and extend the “efficiency dividend” is a direct attack on our city. It will cut some $2.7 billion and thousands of jobs from the APS.

I will oppose these cuts and fight to restore the capacity of what is not only our biggest employer but an invaluable source of public policy expertise and crucial services that so many Australians rely on.

A win for truth

The Australian Electoral Commission also released its final decision this week on Advance Australia’s fake ads attacking me. Not once but twice this week these desperate and dirty tactics, employed by those afraid they can’t win in a fair fight, have been found to breach electoral law.

While belated, this news was very welcome and underscores how important it is that the next parliament establish not only a federal anti-corruption commission with real power, but also introduce truth in political advertising laws. 

Better support for DV Survivors, Veterans and our Pacific family

This week I called for more specialist assistance for survivors of family and domestic violence as more than one woman a week continues to be murdered by a current or former partner. 

I met with local veteran and the President of the Veterans Motorcycle Club Stephen Williams to talk about all the ways we need to better support our ex-service men and women.

On Monday I also had the privilege of speaking at the Pacific Climate Security Summit alongside a range of dignitaries including Admiral (Ret) Chris Barrie AC. We are failing not only our future generations but our Pacific family after a decade of inadequate action on climate. We must do better on what is now also a matter of national security in our region.

Policies to make housing more affordable 

If there was one issue that stood out to me overwhelmingly in conversations with Canberrans this campaign, it’s housing.

A shortage of social and affordable housing, coupled with skyrocketing rents and property prices that make purchasing prohibitive mean that this issue is impacting countless people across the community.

We need to do better. This week I released a comprehensive suite of policy priorities aimed at providing pathways to home ownership that won’t push prices up and significantly add to the supply of social and affordable housing. You can read more about it here.

Thank you

This has been the most extraordinary, unforgettable journey with an incredible team and I can’t thank you enough for your support and for the privilege of running to represent you.

I hope you can come and celebrate with us tomorrow night. Whatever the outcome, we have all won from this campaign and the opportunity to come together on the things that matter to us.

Enjoy your democracy sausage, and here’s to the better future we’ve all worked so hard for.

Dave

P.S. A special shoutout to my mum Jane (pictured above) who came down to support my campaign for these last few days and my amazing wife Emma. I could not have done this without you.