29 April 2022

Three weeks to go!

As polling day approaches, there is huge energy around our campaign. We are closing in on our target of 2000 volunteers and we are having conversations with people all over the ACT.

As polling day approaches, there is huge energy around our campaign.

We are closing in on our target of 2000 volunteers and we are having conversations with people all over the ACT. If you haven’t joined the team yet, you can get involved here.

The outpouring of support we’ve received this week from hundreds of people across the community in response to the ramp of attack ads from our opponents has been overwhelming.

While flattered they think I’m superman, I can reassure you that I am running as a true Independent.

I’m here to represent every Canberran, to listen and lift up all of our voices.

More on that in a moment. But first a question:

Got plans tonight?

I’ll be heading along to our volunteer meet and greet at Rose Cottage 4.30 to 5.30pm and would love to see you there.

After that it is onto the ANU for a forum on how politics can be done differently from 6 to 7.30pm where I will be moderating a stellar panel featuring Ash Streeter-Jones, Daisy Jeffrey, Aqeel Camal, Sally Scales, and Dhani Gilbert. Spots are limited so RSVP here!

And then it’s onto Badger & Co. for some relaxed conversations to end the week before heading into another cracking weekend out in the community (details below).

Debating policy

This week I attended FOUR candidates forums and some other great events which I’ll get onto in just a sec.

Thank you to U3A, ACTCOSS, ACT Conservation Council and the Kingston Barton Residents association for organising.

Unfortunately Senator Seselja has been a notable absence at every forum I've done.

I hope that some time in the next 21 days he fronts up, faces the people and engages with all of the candidates in a true debate around policy and a vision for our future.

Because that’s what politics is really all about. And what our community deserves.

It’s also why I took issue with Advance Australia’s pretty desperate and dirty tactics - tactics that suggest our campaign to have better representation in the ACT is hitting a nerve. By all means, let’s have a robust election contest but we should be stopping short of misleading voters and undermining our democracy with underhanded tactics.

The level of confusion these ads created reinforce why truth in political advertising - something I’ve been backing for years - is so needed. I’m elected, it will be high on the list.

Connecting with the community

Yesterday I supported the National Day of Action to #DefendOurNDIS

It was a privilege to meet with people from across the ACT disability sector who do such extraordinary work across our community.

I was also very humbled to speak to hundreds of powerful advocates making their voices heard & taking back their power at the Big Night In.

Sustaining the NDIS - ensuring people’s plans aren’t being cut without or services slashed - has been raised with me time and again out talking to the community.

Another issue that keeps cropping up is ensuring we have enough police officers on the ground keeping our community safe. That’s why I am backing the AFP Association’s call to increase staff and also ensure our local force is no longer the lowest paid in the country.

Another highlight from this week was getting out to visit more local businesses as well and calling into the Canberra Innovation Network.

Canberra is home to some extraordinarily bright, hardworking, ambitious and tenacious entrepreneurs and small business owners. I will be working hard to support them every way I can. You can check out how I will do this here.