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Sophie Mirabella – Border Mail<\/p><\/div>\n
By Tom Anderson,<\/p>\n
2 September, 2013<\/p>\n
Back on August 16 I made my debut as a Citizen Journalist when Margo published my first ever piece of writing<\/a> after I live-tweeted for the first time an Indi candidates forum. I ended with:<\/p>\n “Tonight I became involved in local grass roots politics. I got engaged in it and like a child given candy and riding high on a sugar rush, I WANT MORE\u2019.”<\/p>\n Every day in the two weeks since has seen a forum, a press conference or an event. It\u2019s almost a full time job just trying to stay up to date on everything happening around you. I\u2019ve been riding the \u2018sugar high\u2019 and am addicted to the election goings on in the seat of Indi and fully engaged in the #Indivotes Twitter discussions every day and night.<\/p>\n Now that I am Tom Anderson, writer for No Fibs, local candidates and support staff all know my name and greet me except Sophie Mirabella\u2019s staff, who now go out of their way to not talk to me.<\/p>\n Due to work commitments I listened in to the Wodonga candidates\u2019 forum on 26th August, which was broadcast live on the local ABC. It was a fiery passionate night with a little comic relief from the \u2018Bullet Train guy\u2019.<\/p>\n I attended the Victorian Farmers Federation candidates\u2019 forum on the 29th August and live tweeted that forum. My upward-pumping hand was finally recognised and I was given the microphone to ask one question to be directed at just one candidate. I asked:<\/p>\n \u201cWe started this evening with a Welcome to Country ceremony conducted by Uncle Wally of the Yorta Yorta people, and I would like to thank Uncle Wally for that. My question is for Sophie Mirabella. Members of your party have stated publicly that the Welcome to Country ceremony is overdone these days – how do see the significance of that and with hindsight do you regret boycotting the National Sorry day speech in Parliament?\u201d<\/p>\n Sophie\u2019s reply was that \u201cI am more interested in substance over symbolism\u201d and that the \u2018Sorry Day\u2019 was rushed and she did not have enough information at the time. She concluded by stating that Uncle Wally had conducted a smoking ceremony in her office and she had respect for the local Indigenous community, but did not include an answer to the question.<\/p>\n The moderator deemed the question to be answered and I was not allowed the opportunity to seek further clarification.<\/p>\n My observations and form guide garnered from the performances that night are as follows:<\/p>\n Robyn Walsh<\/b>, ALP, is trying very hard to be seen as just not making up the numbers. She has become more engaged.<\/p>\n Jenny O\u2019Connor<\/b>, Greens, has become feistier and her passion has intensified. She is now prepared to call others out and interject when she disagrees.<\/p>\n As I predicted, Cathy McGowan<\/b> has improved since earlier forums. She is now confident and assertive, and is no longer willing to let anyone dominate, interject over her or steal the spotlight from her. At one stage I unexpectedly had goose bumps listening to her talk.<\/p>\n Sophie Mirabella<\/b> came out with all guns blazing. The confident, arrogant and consummate professional at previous forums is becoming more intense and desperate. The calmness and confidence in her answers at the last two forums has been replaced by intensity and a degree of the old bitchiness associated with her persona.<\/p>\n I also attended my first press conference, where former Victorian National Party MP of more than 34 years Ken Jasper publicly expressed support for his old family friend Cathy McGowan. He stated he had never supported Sophie Mirabella and believed it was time for a change in the electorate of Indi and that we deserved better representation.<\/p>\n He had this to say:<\/p>\n After spending most of the night transcribing that press conference for No Fibs<\/a> , I hope I never have to do that again in my life. I have a new found respect for journalist and students who do it on a regular basis.<\/p>\n
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