30 August 2013
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The Victorian Farmers Federation hosted a candidates forum in the CWA hall at Wangaratta last night. Arriving late due to a storm that had thrown tree branches across the road at various points on the way in, I was surprised to see the crowd spilling out the door. On a cold storming night I was expecting most to stay away.
Candidate forums are becoming popular in Indi because there’s a real contest in this election. Many people were live tweeting the event, including the VFF.
A notable absence of the night was ‘the train guy’ Hayes, who proved a popular figure at the last forum in Wodonga. The night kicked off with a welcome to country.
Uncle Wally performing a welcome to country at Wangaratta #indivotes forum
— Tom Anderson (@TomAnderson62) August 29, 2013
Each candidate got three minutes to make their case to the voters. The Greens’ Jenny O’Connor started off the evening by telling the crowd that the Greens and farmers are closer than many think, with both seeking a sustainable agriculture sector and healthy environment.
Bob Murphy was up next with the quote of the night, “no frog shit”.
Bob Murphy says Clive Palmer is a good man and business man, despite the "frog shit" you may have heard about him. #indivotes
— Wangaratta Chronicle (@wangchronicle) August 29, 2013
Cathy McGowan stepped up to the mic to loud cheers. “I have a vision for agriculture. I know the people of Indi.’
@Indigocathy lays down her vision- a big picture approach to AG – and regenerating our youth #agchatoz #indivotes
— Vic Farmers Fed (@VicFarmers) August 29, 2013
Phil Rourke (KAP) was openly hostile to Jenny O’Connor: “Our vision is to get the Greens out of the Senate.” I’ve only seen Rourke at two forums, but both times he seemed a little on the angry side.
Robyn Walsh (ALP)
Robin Walsh lays down value of Indi to her and the passion to embrace change. "We need to embrace foreign ownership" #indivotes #agchatoz
— Vic Farmers Fed (@VicFarmers) August 29, 2013
Sophie Mirabella (Lib) was late to the forum, which wasn’t appreciated by those live tweeting the event. Given the storms about it’s understandable, but judging from the tweets there was no apology offered. Sophie went straight on the attack.
Can't believe mirabella gave no apology for her lateness for tonight's forum #indivotes
— Lauren McCully (@McCully81L) August 29, 2013
Wow mirabella begins by bagging out @TonyHWindsor… Ummmm not good #indivotes
— Lauren McCully (@McCully81L) August 29, 2013
Bob Dudley from Rise Up Australia said his party wants more people to stay and live in rural communities.
Again McGowan was asked to state her position on the Woolworths-Coles duopoly: When are you going to admit that you support the duopoly of the supermarkets? She replied:
@Indigocathy "I'm a great supporter of Independent Grocers. I'm sorry that is not my position. #indivotes "
— Vic Farmers Fed (@VicFarmers) August 29, 2013
The next question was about young people, social issues and farmer health. Dudley (RUA) said there was great concern about the disconnect from farm to city and something needed to be done about well being. Jenny O’Connor(G): “We will commit $550M to mental health…cutting funds to young people and single parents is disgusting”. Robyn Walsh (ALP) lamented the high suicide rate in regional areas. Mirabella (Lib) stressed the need for economic security and investment. McGowan: “A three-pronged approach – stop the hurt, address the problem, get the resources.”
On foreign ownership of farms Mirabella said the Coalition would lower thresholds for Foreign Investment Review Board approval to $15 million.
Mirabella was asked about her comments regarding the VFF and NFF not representing farmers. “We’re not going to be dictated to by a single lobby group….I do not believe the repository of all wisdom rests with those who hold positions.”
To a question about parents who lost money from cuts and grandparents who are raising grandchildren, Jenny O’Connor told a very personal story about being a single mum and raising children alone. Greens will reverse cuts to single parents pension. She received loud applause from the floor. Mirabella again talked about a solution through growing the economic pie to a few jeers from the crowd.
On the Coalition’s paid parental leave scheme, Walsh called it an abomination. Mirabella, in her own Jaymes Diaz moment, said, “We deal with three things – participation, population….participation…it’ll come to me.” After another pause she moved on to insist that it’s a workplace right, just like superannuation and sick leave.
Rourke, Mirabella and Dudley are against same sex marriage. Mirabella went on to talk about her traditional family and how she feels passionate about being a role model for young women. Walsh said she would not exclude 10% of the population.
In another personal moment from O’Connor she introduced her daughter Claire to make the point she has mostly been a single mother, part of a non-traditional family, and she is proud of the great person Claire has become. She asked the candidates a question – do you thing it is right to discriminate against somebody on their sexual preference? To loud applause O’Connor stated she does not think it’s right, so she supports same sex marriage. Murphy of PUP Palmers gave a non-answer. McGowan supported gay marriage.
When asked for a show of hands for and against alpine cattle grazing, McGowan did not commit either way.
Jenny O’Connor explained why The Greens were against alpine grazing. In Indi alpine cattle grazing is a divisive issue with both jeers and cheers for O’Connor. Walsh pointed out only a few grazing familes get to take advantage of it anyway and the park is there for everyone, not for the profit of a few.
A local Bangarang elder (see top image) asked the candidates if they would stand up for truth and justice, complaining their land had been hijacked by the Yorta Yorta. All candidates agreed. There is a long running dispute over native title here.
O’Connor confirmed The Greens commitment to a price on carbon and said we should not be importing food.
McGowan was in favour of live export but also wanted to support the Indonesians to improve animal welfare. She pointed out she is a great supporter of the MLA and wants to find better ways of building export markets.
On free trade agreements currently being negotiated, Walsh said they would be completed as soon as possible.
great wrap up Wayne – fantastic to have such intense voter participation. here in Forde, our 3 candidates’ forums have attracted mainly friends and family of the candidates, along with a few handfuls of mostly elderly folk who are associated with the organisers. Indi’s been fascinating to watch, thanks!
Thanks Stephanie :-)
Some real interest in this electorate. Keep up the good work
Yes, much happening here in Indi …. thx Heather
I live in the seat of Fisher, in Queensland, another electorate where local matters are having a big influence: Look up Ashbygate; think Peter Slipper, Mal Brough; leading on to Tony Abbott…
I happened to stumble a year ago or more on the matter of Mirabella’s private history… and the pressure being put on her.
I wonder how many electorates there are round Australia where local matters play a large part in voters’ decisions, nuances which are lost in the standard run down of polls.
Its been furiously pointed out to me on Twitter by one of Mirabella’s people that Sophie did apologise for being late. This was not reflected in live tweets, which I relied on for first 15 minutes.
“but judging from the tweets there was no apology offered” -apparently this is incorrect.
So Sophie feels passionate about being a role model for young women??????????? Well, I hope that the young women I know recognise the facts about the stolen generation which Sophie refused to recognise. I hope they’re not thrown out of public places, least of all Parliament, because of their bad behaviour. I hope they’re tolerant and supportive of other women who might, for instance, choose to wear a head scarf. I hope they don’t smoke. I hope they don’t use abusive language to people who are just doing their job. I hope they’re open and honest with their own family. I hope that when they care for vulnerable people they don’t receive financial gain. I hope they care for and defend our precious environment I hope they can be generous and respond humanely to those who seek asylum. I don’t really care so much about what political ambitions they might have and what they’re prepared to do to achieve them. Most of all I hope that they’re kind and respect all people equally.
Glad to see that your only real comment about me was that I was hostile to the greens. You are correct! They represent the biggest threat to our social , economic and environmental well being , since the Japanese in 1942 . No terrorist organisation on earth could have orchestrated a more well coordinated and effective strike on Australia than the greens have with this murray darling basin plan and their labor puppet government making it law.
I was going to write in the article you’re prone to extreme hyperbole, but forgot. Thanks for correcting my oversight.
Well, you can say what you like. You will never have the guts to face the people directly on the receiving end of this mdbp rubbish. Wanna come for a drive with me one day? I will gladly introduce you to some of them.
I live amongst many people impacted by the Murray Darling Basin Plan. While many don’t like it, most accept something needs to be done for the health of our river systems, and a sustainable future. Apart from you, I have never heard anyone liken it to terrorism or a Japanese invasion.
Cheers Phil, good luck next Saturday.