When there’s so much uncertainty about 2022 – how many times will I stick a swab up my nose, can I book a weekend away, will Canberra house prices ever stop rising – it’s nice to know that some things are certain. And one thing for sure is that this is an election year, whether we like it or not.
Politicians may no longer be able to kiss babies and the democracy sausage may be in peril, but even in the time of COVID, we will troop to the polling booths at some point in the next four months and collectively decide who we send up the hill to represent us.
A year ago, a group of us looked ahead to this election and said ‘enough is enough’. Enough of yelling at the TV news in despair, enough of banging the kitchen table in frustration, and enough of switching off because the system seems broken. If we want change – if we want politics that is centred on the community, if we want urgent meaningful action on climate change, if we want politics to be cleaned up, if we want a society where women are valued and if we want to live in a territory that can make its own laws – then we need to step up and do our bit. And so proACT was born.
Inspired by the ‘Voices for …’ model from the electorate of Indi and elsewhere, proACT was set up as a community movement that helps change the conversation we have about politics, pushes for community led change and finds the right community-backed independent to stand for the Senate in the next election. And we know we have the right candidate in David Pocock.
Throughout 2021 we spoke with hundreds of people from Holt to Hackett, Cook to Campbell, Tuggeranong to Turner, Bonner to Bruce, Swinger Hill to Spence, Charnwood to Chisholm and beyond. When we asked them who they would like as a Senator, they suggested journalists, academics and activists, but there was just one name that kept on coming up – David Pocock. Former captain of the Wallabies, long term climate activist, and genuine, decent human being.
We were lucky to have two incredible candidates seeking proACT endorsement but community feedback was clear and David was chosen for his authenticity, for his values, for his track record on things that matter to us and for his ability to win. It’s going to be a tough race, but with a strong community-backed candidate and the right groundswell, it is possible.
How refreshing to have someone who doesn’t come from the usual politician background of political staffer, lawyer or trade unionist and instead brings different life experience and perspective. How inspiring to have someone whose values run deep and we know will collaborate and stand up for the things that people in the ACT care about. How refreshing to have someone who listens as much as
he speaks, a man who will be a champion of cultural and behavioural change in parliament. How exciting to again feel energised about politics!
To get real action on the big issues that matter, we need more independents like David in Parliament, people who are motivated to be there for the right reasons, to actually engage with and represent their community (and not just toe the party line) and stand up for the big issues important to the ACT and the country. And it’s not just proACT that knows this – on the day that David announced,
more than 2,000 people signed up at www.dpfortheact.com to get involved.
So, when you stand at the voting booth, tummy rumbling for the COVID-safe democracy sausage that awaits outside, make your vote count. And this year, don’t forget about the Senate, because for the first time there’s someone who can shake things up. Who do you want potentially holding the balance of power in the Senate? Who do you want representing you?
– Clare Doube, Co-founder, proACT, www.proact.org.au
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Canberra Daily.
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