VOICES for Mallee board member Peta Thornton believes the success of independents across the nation and the “rejection of the two-party system” in the recent federal election has inspired her to continue the push for better representation in the Mallee.
The group’s board, representing members from across the large electorate, recently met on a rural Mallee property to start planning for 2025.
“Mallee has now been a safe Nationals seat for over 70 years and this means we tend to be taken for granted and are not valued as an important political target for major investment,” Ms Thornton said.
“A safe seat means you are not a prime concern for parties while they are looking to attract votes in more marginal seats.
“Voices for Mallee is not aligned with any other party and its platform is purely derived from deep community engagement with constituents.”
“Voices for Mallee writes down the ideas and concerns from each individual and these conversations are collated with other conversations across the Mallee.”
Ms Thornton, a Swan Hill resident, said using the “kitchen table conversation” model and other engagements, a document was being created covering the issues and aspirations of the electorate.
“It’s about ensuring the diversity and depth of the electorate is captured and heard by our elected representatives,” she said.
“The highly successful Voices for Indi model of ‘bottom up’ democracy is now famous in Australian political history, first delivering Cathy McGowan to federal parliament for two terms and the highly regarded Helen Haines for another two terms.
“It is a really exciting time for democracy in Australia.
“It is our hope that the parliament will be transformed this term to one that is more collaborative and diverse and one that deliberates deeply over policy not ideology and media spin.”
