Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, today announced that a federal election will be held on Saturday 21st August. That’s 5 weeks (840 hours) away in which the politicians will try their hardest to win enough primary votes to form a government. Queensland and Western Australia may ‘pay out’ heavily on the Labor team.
Hopefully, people will look beyond ‘the party machines’ and vote for others outside the party structure. One of these is Deirdre Finter, an IndependeNT candidate for Lingiari who has a sound ‘coal-face’ knowledge of Aboriginal issues across communities in the NT as well as issues for the cultural mixes in the major towns of Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and capital city of Darwin.
It’s about the person; not the party!! Party politics contain a representative’s ability to adequately represent their constituency in an impartial manner. Voters need to determine the strength and credibility of each of the candidates on offer. There are at least three parties contesting these elections along with several individuals standing as Independent candidates.
Singer, songwriter, tremendous achiever and proud parent Warren H. Williams is a traditional Aboriginal man with a huge history and significant place in the hearts, minds and spirit of many Centralians and Top-Enders. He is a Senate candidate who would bring a new lease of life to the House of Review.
For all of you who have recently turned 18 (or will by 21st August) you only have this coming Monday to check with your local electoral commission and make sure you’re enrolled to vote. Being 18 brings with it rights and responsibilities. We are so very fortunate that we live in a democracy where our opinions are valued and our positions considered. Being able to vote in an election is one such responsibility we should always consider a right and a privilege.
