Turnbull takes to liberalism’s lifeboat as LNP ‘broad church’ blows up: Margo Kingston reports on #IndependentsDay

MALCOLM Turnbull would consider voting for a strong moderate liberal independent in the Sydney federal electorate of Wentworth, and has named NSW seats he believes could be vulnerable if ‘voices for’ groups nominate outstanding moderate liberal independents – Wentworth, Mackellar, North Sydney, Bradfield and Hume.  In an interview for the #transitzone podcast, the former prime minister […]

Narrabri coal seam gas – where are we up to? @Ppl4Plains reports #Pilliga and #LockTheGate

For over ten years, the threat of a gasfield in the Pilliga State Forest to the south of Narrabri has hung over our heads. People for the Plains is a local group that first gathered in 2013 to educate ourselves and the broader community about the gasfield threats and I have been part of that […]

Diary of an Orbost climate refugee: @greengipps reports on #AustralianBushfires

There’s nothing special about me this week. I’m one of many hundreds, maybe thousands, worried about their homes burning down. My home in Cabbage Tree Creek, East Gippsland, might be burning as I write. I have a fire bunker which was about to get installed when the fires started and now no heavy machinery available. […]

Dark clouds and silver linings, the ICAN #ClimateAction vision: @adropex reports #ActiveDemocracy

Distinctive campaign battle lines were defined long before Scott Morrison’s belated April 11 announcement that we would be going to the polls on May 18. For months the Coalition had insisted the election was going to be about the economy, security and putting locals first, “to keep our economy strong, to keep Australians safe and […]

The Liberal campaign in #KooyongVotes an #AusVotes dinosaur: @adropex reports #ActiveDemocracy

Cutting his parliamentary teeth in the Tony Abbott opposition of the 43rd Parliament, Josh Frydenberg could be excused for thinking that with a blue-ribbon seat and a bit of judicious backing in the leadership spills he was set for life. Certainly, since winning the seat of Kooyong in 2010, his rise through the Liberal Party […]

A successful #IndependentsDay is like winning Eurovision: @adropex reviews #GetElected #ActiveDemocracy

Pale, male and stale The political class ‘is on the nose’ and trust in our politicians is going into a deep dive. Parliament is seen as being dominated by “personalities, parties and pecuniary interests”. People are tired of the scandals, the factional power struggles and the revolving door of leadership and prime ministers. With each […]

I felt she was speaking directly to me: @digitdave reflects on @indigocathy and #ActiveDemocracy with @adropex

Like the waters of the Murray-Darling Basin, communities run deep in regional and rural Australia. From the Hawkesbury River and the central coast of New South Wales to the Murray River and the valleys and ranges of north east Victoria, people gathered at Parliament House overlooking Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin to listen to Cathy McGowan’s […]

Shouting at the television and planting gardens: #ActiveDemocracy stories by @adropex

What do shouting at the television and gardening have in common? From little things big things have grown. Gather ’round people, let me tell you a story… or two. Whilst a television was not one of the perks of an Aboriginal stockman’s life in the Northern Territory in 1966, the story of Vincent Lingiari and […]

You’re invited to back the beard! We’re launching Ray Kingston @malleeray: @davelennonabc reports on #MalleeVotes

Back the Beard! Ray Kingston The Independent for Mallee will officially launch his campaign this Sunday, April 7, at 6pm live at the Rupanyup Bowling Club. If you can’t be there it will be live streamed here or you can watch it later at the same link. You’ve heard too much over the years from […]

Florries, family ties, pelicans and wheelie bins for @malleeray in #malleevotes: @davelennonabc reports

It was a funny old week during which not a lot happened publicly, apart from preparations continuing behind the scenes for that moment Scomo says go! The big difference was that unlike last week — when it took a 6am start to allow time to drive over to Kerang and Pyramid Hill — this time […]