VOICES for Mallee has launched a month-long “kitchen table conversations” blitz this week, urging Mallee residents to stand up and have their voices heard leading into the federal election.
The “grassroots” organisation set up by about 20 people is calling for people to register for small group discussions to be held online, beginning Monday.
Voices for Mallee board director and Swan Hill resident Peta Thornton said the conversations were an opportunity for people in the Mallee electorate, “disillusioned by party politics”, to have their say about what they want from their elected representatives.
She said the board wanted constituents to know that their opinion mattered and to become reengaged with democracy.
“That is what drives us,” Ms Thornton said.
“The conversations will be carefully recorded ensuring participant anonymity and collated by Voices for Mallee.
“The results will be made available publicly and particularly to all who are standing for election.
“It is an opportunity for we, the voters, to hear what those standing have to say on each issue.
“It is intended to give an opportunity for an informed vote.”
Ms Thornton said the organisation encouraged people to run a kitchen table conversation with their own group.
“This could be on Zoom, the pub, a local cafe or whatever works for people as a venue,” she said.
For those that simply do not have the time but want to share their thoughts they can complete a questionnaire on the Voices for Mallee website with the same prompt questions we use in the kitchen table conversations.
Ms Thornton said Voices for Mallee was not aligned with any political party – its platform came from what was raised in the conversations.
“People across our electorate are disappointed with the current political process and what it says about our democracy,” she said.
Voices For Mallee is a grassroots organisation set up by 20 or so people in the Mallee in the past year.
“We aim to provide a simple and effective process by which people across the electorate can give voice – where their interests, concerns and ideas are heard, respected and taken up by candidates presenting for election,” Ms Thornton said.
Inspired by Voices for Indi and Voices of Warringah, the group believed that “each one of us can play a constructive part in lifting standards of behaviour, focusing on ideas and policies and strengthening the way we are represented”.
“We want our political representatives to prioritise their electorate and not their party,” Ms Thornton said.
