Voices groups in Australia
The Voices for or Voices of groups are a series of loosely related political community engagement groups Australia.[1] Some of the groups have endorsed candidates to run as candidates in federal elections.
History[edit]
Australia has had a number of independents who have successfully won a seat in parliament, although most of them had the advantage of previously being an MP for a major party, or held a high profile position in the community.
Indi[edit]
In 2012 a community group in the division of Indi, in northern Victoria wanted to approach the local MP, Sophie Mirabella to express their concerns over various local issues. The group formed under the name Voices for Indi and conducted a series of Kitchen Table Conversations in order to gather the views of a cross section of the community.[2]
When the group presented Mirabella with the report, they felt ignored, at that point their view was the only way to get their needs on the heard in parliament would be to make the electorate marginal and to force the Liberal party to preferences in order to win the seat rather than winning on primary votes, as they had in every election since the formation of the Liberal party in 1949 when the Nationals were not running. In order to achieve that goal they decided to endorse an independent.[2]
The group endorsed Cathy McGowan as their candidate.
At the 2013 federal election McGowan received a very favourable preference flow and won the seat by 439 votes.[3] She also won in 2016.
McGowan chose not to contest the 2019 election. Voices for Indi endorsed Helen Haines, who ultimately won the election. It represents the first time in Australia that two independents were elected consecutively.[4][5]
Warringah[edit]
In the lead-up to the 2019 elections, two groups were formed in the division of Warringah, whose MP was former prime minister, Tony Abbott. One was Voices of Warringah which modeled itself on Indi, the other being Vote Tony Out which targeted Abbott directly, claiming that his views on issues such as climate made him a poor fit to represent the electorate.
The group endorsed former Olympic skiing medalist Zali Steggall. Steggall won the election with over 57% of the two candidate vote.[6]
2022 election and expansion[edit]
Following the 2019 election where the independents won two seat, a number of other communities started their own Voices groups. This included metropolitan seats and some rural and regional seats and in most states around the country.
In early 2021, Cathy McGowan headed a conference for community minded independents to give them support and encouragement to run for elected office. The conference had representatives from 78 of the 151 divisions of the Australian parliament,[7] and counted 28 Voices groups at the time of the conference.[8][9][10] Initially the conference aimed for 50 attendees, but over 300 attended.[11] By later in 2021 there were over 30 groups around Australia.[12]
While they are often reported on together, they are all separate groups that appear similar due to similar frustrations,[13] and are mostly focused on government integrity and environment.[14]
Reactions[edit]
Endorsements[edit]
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said of the movement "Indi and Warringah are not 'special cases' but templates for further change if the Coalition cannot deliver on climate."[15]
Ian Macphee who was a minister in the Fraser Government and an MP for Goldstein endorsed the Voices of Goldstein and the broader movement, saying "I believe grassroots activity is imperative and can be done by supporting good independent candidates."[16][17]
Former leader of the Liberal party, John Hewson said of the movement "taking the vote for granted has been a mistake from both parties for quite some time and you're starting to see protest movements gain momentum . . . over time, you're going to see it reflected in the ballot box."[18] Former Labor MP, Barry Jones and former Democrats leader, Meg Lees joined Hewson on the board of Climate 200, a fund aiming to financially support independent candidates.[19][20]
The movement has also received endorsements from former members of parliament, Kerryn Phelps,[21] Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott.[22]
Opposition[edit]
The opposition to the movement has fallen into two categories. That they are fronts for Labor and Greens and the source of the money is unknown.
Senator Andrew Bragg wrote to the Australian Electoral Commission to ask them to ensure that the groups were fulfilling all the requirements for disclosures for political donations. This is despite the fact that the groups were not political parties, and at that stage had not endorsed any candidates.[23]
In November 2021, it was reported that Voices of Goldstein in Melbourne had received a significant donation from a former member of the Greens.[24] The Australian's Paul Kelly called the candidates "anti-coalition independents".[25] In response the supporters of the Voices groups say that their policy positions are more in line with traditional Liberal policies[26], a number of the candidates had recently voted for the Liberal party[27][28] and, as is the case for Allegra Spender, come from a high profile Liberal family.[29]
List[edit]
| Group | Electorate | State | Founded | Candidate supported at the | Successful campaigns | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProACT | ACT (Senate) | ACT | 2021 | [30] | ||
| Voices of Bennelong | Bennelong | NSW | 2021 | [31] | ||
| Voices of Berowra | Berowra | NSW | 2021 | [32] | ||
| Voices of Boothby | Boothby | SA | 2020 | |||
| Voices of Bradfield | Bradfield | NSW | 2021 | [33] | ||
| Voices 4 Calare | Calare | NSW | 2021 | [34] | ||
| Voices for Cooper | Cooper | Vic | 2021 | |||
| Voices 4 Cowper | Cowper | NSW | 2021 | [35] | ||
| Voices of Durack | Durack | WA | 2021 | |||
| We are Fadden | Fadden | Qld | 2021 | |||
| Voices of Mornington Peninsula | Flinders | Vic | 2021 | [36] | ||
| Voices of Forrest | Forrest | WA | 2021 | |||
| Voices of Goldstein | Goldstein | Vic | 2020 | Zoe Daniel[37] | [38][39] | |
| Voices of Groom | Groom | Qld | 2021 | Suzie Holt | [40] | |
| Hughes Deserves Better | Hughes | NSW | 2020 | Georgia Steele[41] | [42] | |
| We are Hughes | 2020 | Linda Seymour[43][44] | [45] | |||
| Voices of Hume | Hume | NSW | 2020 | Penny Ackery[46] | [47] | |
| Voices for Indi | Indi | Vic | 2012 | Helen Haines | 2013 2016 2019 | [4] |
| Voices of Kooyong | Kooyong | Vic | 2021 | [48] | ||
| Voices 4 Lyne | Lyne | NSW | 2021 | |||
| Mackellar Rising | Mackellar | NSW | 2021 | [49] | ||
| Voices of Mackellar | 2020 | [47][50] | ||||
| Voices 4 Mallee | Mallee | Vic | 2021 | |||
| Voices for Monash | Monash | Vic | 2021 | [51] | ||
| Voices4GC | Moncrieff | Qld | 2021 | |||
| Voices for Moore | Moore | WA | 2021 | [52] | ||
| Voices of New England | New England | NSW | 2021 | [53] | ||
| Voices for Nicholls | Nicholls | Vic | 2021 | |||
| Voices of North Sydney | North Sydney | NSW | 2020 | [47][54] | ||
| Voices of Pearce | Pearce | WA | 2021 | |||
| Voices4Riverina | Riverina | NSW | 2020 | [47] | ||
| Voices of Tasmania | Tasmania (Senate) | TAS | 2021 | [55] | ||
| Voices of Wannon | Wannon | Vic | 2021 | [56] | ||
| Voices of Warringah | Warringah | NSW | 2018 | Zali Steggall | 2019 | [6] |
| Voices of Wentworth | Wentworth | NSW | 2018 | Allegra Spender | 2018 (Kerryn Phelps) | [57] |
| Voices of Wide Bay | Wide Bay | Qld | 2021 | |||
| YES Voices (Yarra Valley, Ranges & Eastern Suburbs Voices) | Aston | VIC | 2021 | [58] |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Liberal party says rival New Liberals will cause 'widespread voter confusion'". the Guardian. 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Growing dissatisfaction with federal politics sees Coalition seats under threat from independents". ABC News. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ Commission, Australian Electoral. "House of Representatives Division First Preferences". results.aec.gov.au. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Everyone wants to be Mr Black — except in Indi, where the colour is orange". Crikey. 2019-05-06. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
- ↑ Chan, Gabrielle (2014-06-16). "Voices for Indi give political minorclass where everyone is welcome". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Tony Abbott Goes To Ground In Voices Of Warringah Candidate Survey". New Matilda. 2019-05-14. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
- ↑ "One way to take the helm". Australia Remade. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
- ↑ "Independent politicians to hold conference to plot federal election strategy". the Guardian. 2021-02-02. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ↑ "Getting Elected: The First National Convention for Community-Minded Independents". Australian Women In Agriculture. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ↑ "Australia's trailblazing Independent Cathy McGowan on the integrity we need". Women's Agenda. 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ↑ Hall, Bianca (2021-04-03). "Independents' day: Push to attract community candidates to the people's house". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
- ↑ ""Voices Of" ignites 30 independent movements across Australia". Michael West Media. 2021-09-24. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ "Meet three independent women aiming to conquer Liberal strongholds". The New Daily. 2021-11-26. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ "Backed by Climate 200's $3.6m war chest, independent challengers circle Coalition seats". the Guardian. 2021-11-13. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ "The Coalition will lose more former heartland seats to independents without a climate plan | Malcolm Turnbull". the Guardian. 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ↑ "Former Liberal minister endorses ousting of MP Tim Wilson at next federal election". the Guardian. 2021-08-03. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ "ESSAY: Former #GoldsteinVotes moderate Liberal MP Ian Macphee makes the case for Daniel". No Fibs Independents Day. 2021-12-01. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
- ↑ "Community movement 'Voices for Nicholls' launched". Shepparton News. 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ "Former Liberal leader to join forces with Labor veteran in bid to target Morrison ahead of election". the Guardian. 2021-11-18. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ "'Keep the bastards honest': former Australian Democrats leader joins high-profile group backing independents". the Guardian. 2021-11-25. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ "KERRYN PHELPS: Coalition threatened by Independent movement". Independent Australia. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ "Windsor and Oakeshott ride again to force parties on climate". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ Harris, Rob (2021-09-01). "Electoral Commission urged to probe funding of 'Voices for' movements". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ Harris, Rob (2021-11-17). "Greens, Get Up donor joins 'Voices of' push targeting MP Tim Wilson". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ November 25; 2021 - 19:29pm (2021-11-25), Zoe Daniel running against Tim Wilson is an ‘anti-Coalition movement’, retrieved 2021-11-30
- ↑ "Voices candidates recall an earlier generation of Liberals in the face of 'moderate' failure". Crikey. 2021-12-01. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
- ↑ Perkins, Miki (2021-11-25). "Former ABC reporter Zoe Daniel to fight Liberals on climate and integrity". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ "FAQs". North Sydney's Independent. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ "Wentworth campaign: Allegra Spender says Dave Sharma needs to 'get out of the way' after climate failures". the Guardian. 2021-11-27. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ "proACT". proACT. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
- ↑ ""Voices Of" ignites 30 independent movements across Australia". Michael West Media. 2021-09-25. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ↑ "Voices of Berowra, Bradfield, Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai". BCL.com.au. 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ↑ "Dailytelegraph.com.au | Subscribe to The Daily Telegraph for exclusive stories". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ↑ "Voices 4 Calare". Voices 4 Calare. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
- ↑ "If Morrison is hearing voices, it's not his imagination — it's a grassroots revolution". Crikey. 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ↑ "Voices of Mornington Peninsula". Voices of Mornington Peninsula. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
- ↑ Perkins, Miki (2021-11-25). "'If not us, then who?': Former ABC journalist Zoe Daniel announces tilt at blue ribbon seat". The Age. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
- ↑ "Voices of Goldstein". www.voicesofgoldstein.org.au. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
- ↑ "Voices of Goldstein speak up for democracy: podcast". 88.3 Southern FM. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ↑ "Subscribe to The Chronicle". www.thechronicle.com.au. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
- ↑ Maley, Jacqueline (2021-10-29). "Meet the independent taking on Craig Kelly in seat of Hughes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
- ↑ Hughes Deserves Better
- ↑ Hughes, We Are (2021-11-18). "We Are Hughes Selection Process a Huge Success!". Wearehughes. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ↑ Massola, James (2021-11-14). "Target Craig Kelly: Independent movement takes on former Liberal". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ↑ "We Are Hughes - Democracy in action. Integrity. Informed. Inclusive". We Are Hughes. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ Massola, James (2021-11-13). "Voices of Hume candidate revealed in fight for Angus Taylor's Hume seat". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 47.3 "Independents' day: why safe Coalition seats are facing grassroots challenges". the Guardian. 2020-11-20. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
- ↑ "Homepage". Voices of Kooyong. Retrieved 2021-08-23. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Mackellar Rising". Mackellarrising.org. 2021-09-27. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ↑ "Dailytelegraph.com.au | Subscribe to The Daily Telegraph for exclusive stories". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
- ↑ Gardner, Author Peter (2021-05-04). "Voices for Monash". Peter Gardner. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
- ↑ "Voices for Moore". BCL.com.au. 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
- ↑ Messenger, Andrew (2021-07-22). "Voices of New England: 'participatory democracy' scheme kicks off". The Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
- ↑ "Voices of North Sydney". Retrieved 2021-04-01.
- ↑ "Voices of Tasmania". 2021-11-15.
- ↑ "Voices of Wannon". Voices of Wannon. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
- ↑ "Voices of Wentworth". Voices of Wentworth. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
- ↑ "YES Voices". YES Voices. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
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