D-DAY POLL Now You Have YOUR Say!

Eyes and ears of the world will be on Bennelong electorate this Saturday as Prime Minister John Howard fights for his political life and the fortunes of the Liberal-National Coalition Government.

National public opinion polls have not been kind to the prime minister who is being strongly challenged by the Labor Party’s star candidate and former ABC TV presenter and journalist Maxine McKew.

Most polls indicate the result is too close to call accurately and expect the result will be right down to the wire on preferences.

John Howard faces an uphill battle on preferences as most of the 13 Melbourne Cup field of candidates are preferencing against the government with the Christian Democratic Party’s pastor Robyn Peebles one of the few exceptions.

In the neighbouring electorate of North Sydney incumbent MP and Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Joe Hockey is being challenged by another ABC TV journalist and weatherman Mike Bailey.

Now despite all the hype and posturing by candidates and supporters the truth and reality is in the hands of the electors. Now it’s the time for YOU to Have YOUR Say on the election’s D-Day at the ballot box!

Bennelong Candidates

Candidates are listed in the order they appear on the ballot paper

1 LINDSAY PETERS
The Greens

As expected, Lindsay Peters’ major platform is climate change, claiming it is a matter that can’t be ignored or pushed aside: “Climate change should not be a political issue.”

He also follows the party line on phasing out coal mining, setting proper targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions, and undoing Work Choices legislation.

Mr Peters, a long-time Epping resident and chief technical officer by trade, joined the Greens to help combat the destruction of our environment.

“I joined the Greens in their efforts to address some of the major issues of our day including Australia’s disgraceful treatment of asylum seekers, our patently unjust war on Iraq, our continuing logging of wilderness areas, and our government’s refusal to make any meaningful effort to address climate change.”

2 PETER GOLDFINCH
Democrats

Peter Goldfinch is standing for the Democrats to “give something back to the community”.

Mr Goldfinch says he can “no longer sit back and simply observe the impact John Howard’s ‘vision’ is having on Australia, especially on multiculturalism”.

He believes the Democrats have a strong commitment to quality public education and health care, and reconciliation with Australia’s traditional owners. He says the party also has a strong environmental record and an emphasis on social justice.

Mr Goldfinch wants his children “growing up in a local and national community where people’s differences are celebrated rather than exploited and where the Australian population no longer feels disenfranchised from the political process”.

Now residing in Eastwood, Mr Goldfinch has lived in the Bennelong area for over 20 years, and has worked as a community nurse in public health care since 1984.

3 DAVID LEYONHJELM
Liberty and Democracy Party (LDP)

As a long-standing sporting shooter, David Leyonhjelm is particularly concerned with Australia’s gun laws.

He believes our gun laws are both an outrageous waste of money and a loss of individual liberty.

“I have never used my guns for anything except target shooting and hunting feral animals, yet I was twice forced to surrender them to the government or become liable for a jail term of up to 15 years,” he said.

The LDP stands for lower taxes, small government and individual responsibility.

Mr Leyonhjelm has a diverse political history. He was a member of Young Labor and helped with the ‘It’s Time’ campaign in 1972, before later joining the Liberal Party.

In 2006, John Howard’s gun laws led him to the NSW Shooters Party, of which he was Chairman from 1999 to 2005.

4 GAVIN SPENCER
Citizens Electoral Council

As an employee of the Ryde Rehabilitation Centre, Gavin Spencer feels he has experienced first hand the crisis in public health.

“I decided to stand as a candidate because I was disillusioned with the major parties who dodge the real issues, and keep the people in the dark.

“I wanted to give the voters of Bennelong the opportunity to vote for a real alternative to that,” he said.

Mr Spencer is particularly inspired by his parties’ policy of large-scale water development projects.

He is concerned by the water crisis and believes we need to invest more towards this.

He would also like to see the Republican debate restarted, and tries to look at everything from a citizen’s position.

He is married with two children.

5 VICTOR WATERSON
One Nation

Life-long Epping resident Victor Waterson has decided to contest Saturday’s election for the good of “democracy as a whole”.

“I got involved in politics because I don’t support the current direction this country is being taken.”

Aside from repealing Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs), Mr Waterson would provide more tax incentives for small/new business and first home buyers, and provide urgent funds for Ryde Hospital.

Mr Waterson was educated in Epping, and has forged out a career in mechanical engineering. He is now working on a mode of motorised transport for disabled people, and later wishes to start a project improving the efficiency of electrical generation to help ease the impact of global warming.

6 LORRAINE MARKWELL
Family First

Works as a sales assistant (unavailable for comment).

7 GRAEME CORDINER
Independent

As an independent candidate, Gladesville’s Graeme Cordiner believes a vote for him is “a vote for political integrity”.

Mr Cordiner’s particular concern is for the interdependence of the environment, society and the economy, and developing a more direct grassroots democracy.

He also believes the Aboriginal people need to be recognised as central to understanding Australian identity, and that we need to move past ‘Liberal v Labor’ politics.

He would set up a Bennelong-wide internet vote on issues before parliament, and hold monthly forums to debate legislation, with all sides invited to participate. He would also lobby for referenda on all watershed legislation.

Mr Cordiner is active in local politics, as president of Save Our Suburbs - a network of groups working towards a better consultation process and more visionary development policy.

He is also convenor of Sydney Friends of Myall Creek and Residents for Appropriate Development.

He is a teacher and a writer, having worked in primary/secondary/TAFE, as well as six years in Japan and Zimbabwe.

8 DAVID L. ALLEN
Independent

David Allen believes Australia needs people with scientific skills and ethics in government.

“Australians are horrified at the way foreign-based experts are destroying the fabric of our infrastructure.

“I decided to run as an Independent because there was no debate on essential issues during the last election.”

Sustainability for Australia’s economic, social and environmental infrastructure is at the heart of Mr Allen’s campaign.

He believes tariffs are necessary so we can compete against enormous multinationals. He also says we need fewer drugs and unwinnable wars, and more education for Australians.

“Australian universities should be run by Australian professors and invaluable resources such as our rivers, wetlands, and culture should be restored under Kyoto.”

Possessing maths and business degrees, Mr Allen has worked for many years as a business consultant in Australia, the UK and Holland. He has spent two years in the army, has taught in China and Korea, and has built products that are worth millions for several large organisations.

9 YUSUF TAHIR
Independent

Works as a school teacher and taxi driver (unavailable for comment).

10 JOHN HOWARD
Liberal

John Howard has held the seat of Bennelong since 1974, and the office of Prime Minister since 1996.

Mr Howard believes a vote for him is a vote for growth. He believes he can reduce unemployment to three per cent, and increase the number of Australian-trained GPs by 50 per cent.

He also plans to build an extra 100 new technical colleges, and better protect the community through more CCTV cameras both nationally and in Bennelong.

An Emissions Trading Scheme would also drive investments in low emission and renewable technologies such as solar, gas, clean coal, and geothermal energy.

Mr Howard has been actively involved with the Liberal Party since the age of 18, when he participated in student politics at Sydney University.

He graduated in 1961 with a law degree, and prior to being elected to parliament was partner in a Sydney firm of solicitors.

11 MARGHERITA TRACANELLI
Climate Change Coalition (CCC)

Margherita Tracanelli believes climate change is the single most important issue facing us this century.

She believes this election is “our chance to say no to those who have ignored the warnings and for us to begin the process of saving our planet for our children”.

“This old, old country of our indigenous people cries out for some integrity, for a solution, for a remedy, for an answer, for a commitment to end once and for all the havoc we are wreaking on the rest of humanity through the mining of our resources.”

Ms Tracanelli is strongly against nuclear power, and a nuclear reactor in Bennelong. She also campaigns against the use of coal, and believes the major parties have no commitment towards ceasing its production.

She describes herself and fellow party members as “John Lennon’s dreamers”.

Ms Tracanelli has a background in media and law, and this is her first election campaign.

12 ROBYN PEEBLES
Christian Democratic Party (CDP)

Robyn Peebles sees it as her role to provide an alternate voice to the voters of Bennelong.

“I have a different world view based on my Christian beliefs. If people keep hearing the same voice, they’ll think that’s all that’s available.”

Ms Peebles also has a clear vision of the kind of Australia she wants her children to inherit, and says she doesn’t mind asking the “difficult questions”.

She intends to quiz the major parties on whether they support CDP policies of “zero tolerance” to drugs, and a 10-year moratorium on Islamic immigration. She’d also seek out their stance on national religious/sexual vilification laws.

CDP’s policies are geared towards preserving the family unit. These values include a very strong stance against abortion and drugs.

Ms Peebles has contested three election campaigns previously. She has lived in the area for over 35 years, and is the founding pastor of West Ryde’s Church of the Good Shepherd.

13 MAXINE McKEW
Labor

Maxine McKew is running for Bennelong as she believes that after 11 years, John Howard has lost touch on the important issues.

She believes he has “failed to act on climate change, has sent troops into Iraq without an exit strategy, and has imposed extreme and unfair workplace laws”.

A large campaigner on party lines, Ms McKew feels a Kevin Rudd government would provide fresh ideas for Australia’s future.

“We will keep the economy strong by investing in an education revolution, acting decisively on climate change, and providing fairness and balance to our workplace laws.”

This would include skilling up the workforce with trades centres in schools, and helping children with literacy and numeracy programs.

Ms McKew has worked in journalism for over 30 years, and has hosted public affairs programs Lateline and the 7.30 Report. She has won both Walkley and Logie awards. Earlier this year she moved from her Mosman home into the Epping area.

North Sydney Candidates

Candidates are listed in the order they appear on the ballot paper

1 KUNDAN MISRA
Citizens Electoral Council (CEC)

Kundan Misra decided to stand for CEC “to create a future for Australia and the world”.

“No organisation better understands what civilisation is and what it means, nor the threats facing it, and the enemies of humanity and civilisation.”

He is concerned with what he deems to be the national debt crisis, and would like to abolish our current banking system in favour of “national banking”.

He also believes global warming is not a huge issue, and would like to see “nuclear energy on a massive scale”.

Mr Misra is a technology entrepreneur whose expertise includes computer science and research. He is also an analyst and author.

2 ARIE BAALBERGEN
Christian Democratic Party

Arie Baalbergen believes it is his job to get the Christian voice heard in the community.

His ultimate goal is to get more Christians into the parliament to ensure Australia remains a Christian country.

He is very worried about the lack of funding support for the hospital system, and believes more support should be given to our teachers.

“We need better rewards for teachers. Training is one of the most important things in society.”

He is also anti drugs, and is worried about an “increasing alcohol problem in the community”.

Mr Baalbergen also stood for the seat of Lane Cove in this year’s NSW election. Away from the campaign trail, he volunteers for charitable organisations such as Bible League and a local opportunity shop. Before retiring, he owned his own computer training company.

3 MARCUS AUSSIE-STONE
Independent

Unavailable for comment.

4 JOE HOCKEY
Liberal

Sitting member Joe Hockey has been representing the people of North Sydney since 1996.

He is the Minister for Workplace Relations, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service.

Mr Hockey’s focus is on creating more jobs and higher wages for Australians: “This is being achieved through the government’s workplace relations system, making work agreements simpler and more flexible to benefit both workers and businesses.”

He is also passionate about comprehensively filtering the Lane Cove tunnel, and was instrumental in the Howard Government’s decision to pledge $20 million in funding towards the project.

“I have supported the community’s fight to convince the NSW Labor government to filter the tunnel.

“When the tunnel reaches its full capacity, the pollution from around 100,000 cars will be emitted from the two stacks into the local environment.”

Prior to entering parliament, Mr Hockey was a banking and finance lawyer. He lives in Hunters Hill with his wife and two children.

5 TED NIXON
The Greens

Two-time candidate Ted Nixon is very “sensitive to degradation of our precious environment”.

“I am outraged at the continued wood-chipping of old growth forests and land clearing in the bush.”

He is also against the Coalition Government’s handling of industrial relations, and its foreign policy and human rights issues. He also believes it has politicised the public service, is subservient to vested interests, and attempts to undermine the independence of the ABC.

Mr Nixon has lived on the Lower North Shore for over 30 years, having served on Lane Cove Council between 1983 and 1987. He is a former Associate Professor in Ancient History at Macquarie University, and now a Senior Research Fellow.

In the 2004 federal election he polled over 12 per cent for the seat of North Sydney.

6 BARRY THOMPSON
Climate Change Coalition

Barry Thompson is running for North Sydney as he is “most concerned over the state in which the current generation will leave the planet”.

He would call for a carbon trading system, and support the use of renewable energy. He also believes saving energy in our homes is vital in the fight against climate change.

Mr Thompson has served on Willoughby Council since 2003, and has been a strong supporter of its environmental program.

He has also advocated for planning initiatives which will encourage a more compact Sydney, capable of feeding itself from within its own region.

He advocates and practises active transport (walking and cycling) and works to increase council’s accountability.

7 JOHN CAFFERATTA
Family First

Unavailable for comment.

8 MIKE BAILEY
Labor

Former ABC television weatherman Mike Bailey is challenging sitting member Joe Hockey, who goes into Saturday’s election with a 10 per cent margin.

Mr Bailey is particularly passionate about climate change and the environment, having read the weather and written weather columns for many years.

“The greatest issue for North Sydney is certainly climate change.”

He is also particularly concerned with workplace laws, and would strive for “a much fairer and more balanced industrial relations landscape”.

Mr Bailey says he is constantly confronted by people who have been hurt by WorkChoices legislation.

Earlier this year, Mr Bailey quit the ABC in favour of politics. He has worked in print, radio and television journalism for over 35 years, spending time at the ABC, Channel 7, 2GB, 2KY, and Radio 2.

He is also active in community service, frequently hosting and helping organise events for charity and has served on the board of three registered charities.

He is a journalism course co-ordinator and lecturer in radio at Macleay College in Sydney, as well as providing media education for numerous business and professional groups.

He has committed to move into the North Sydney electorate should he be successful this Saturday.

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