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By Bumpy Favell<\/a><\/p>\n 4 Sept 2013<\/p>\n I requested an interview with Lianna Sliwczynski, the Australian Sex Party<\/a>, ASP candidate for Batman in late July 2013, along with all of the other Batman candidates.<\/p>\n If candidates didn\u2019t reply within a few days, I kept contacting them. Three responded promptly: Phillip Sutton, Save the Planet Party, Alex Bhathal, Greens and David Feeney, Labor.<\/p>\n But there was no response from Lianna despite repeated attempts. Since the election was called on August 4, I hadn\u2019t seen anything in my electorate from either the ASP or their candidate for this marginal seat \u2013 no posters, leaflets, or interviews in the local papers.\u00a0In late August, with a week to go before polling day, I heard from Lianna. We arranged to meet in the park near the local TAFE, NMIT in Preston. Lianna said she would be in purple for Wear it Purple Day<\/a>. I joked I couldn\u2019t leave the house because I don\u2019t own anything purple, so when we met Lianna handed me a purple wristband to wear in honour of GLBTIQ youth worldwide.<\/p>\n Lianna is in her early 30s and friendly. During my interview she came across as a great character – tough minded and intelligent and up for a laugh. She recorded me also, and took notes throughout. We started off chatting about the 6 local Wurundjeri\/Kulin Nation weather seasons<\/a>\u00a0Lianna had mentioned on her Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n At one time she worked with Brimbank Council propagating mainly indigenous food plants. Lianna touchingly told me about the \u201cflowers that taste like chocolate, tubers that taste like licorice and trees that grow in support of each other to increase the biodiversity in the land and stop erosion\u201d.<\/p>\n Sliwczynski: <\/b>I did a biotechnology course at uni and got honours in medical laboratory science. I worked in a cancer institute for about 3 years, then at a school as a lab tech, then went overseas and worked in some of the top laboratories in the UK. Now I\u2019m doing swim teaching – and being a politician is my full time job, even though it\u2019s volunteering at the moment.<\/p>\n I\u2019m passionate about a lot of things including Indigenous culture and renewable energy and sustainable practices as well.<\/p>\n Favell: <\/b>So did you ever think about joining the Greens?<\/p>\n Sliwczynski: <\/b>Yeah [laughing], I voted for the Greens last time but then I looked at the Australian Sex Party policies. They\u2019ve got a well-rounded approach. They focus on civil liberties, human rights and equality and they speak about topics that many other political parties and groups won\u2019t speak about. Or are not brave enough to speak about just yet. But they are very very important issues that have to be addressed.<\/p>\n Favell: <\/b>Like what? Tell me some of your favourites.<\/p>\n Sliwczynski: <\/b>A major one is same sex marriage – the Sex Party had policies on that before the major parties. My partner and I have been going to Marriage Equality and civil rights rallies within the LGBTIQ community for years now, including Pride marches in Tokyo, London and Amsterdam and around Europe. We\u2019ve been trying to create awareness of that because it\u2019s important to us.<\/p>\n And sex education in schools: to have age appropriate sex education \u2026 starting from earlier ages than now, so children learn based on scientific research, get the support they need and know they are not dealing with someone homophobic or transphobic. In relation to that, we want to replace the chaplaincy programs in schools with trained professional counselors.<\/p>\n Favell: <\/b>Do you think there\u2019s a lot of diversity in the Sex Party candidates? One young candidate is described on the website as being of the \u201clibertarian right\u201d. How would you place yourself, if you had to say left or right wing attitude.<\/p>\n Sliwczynski: <\/b>Definitely not either. I would say central, because we are looking at different aspects across the board. The Australian Sex Party wasn\u2019t formed from activism or from extreme conservatism or religious bodies.<\/p>\n Favell: <\/b>Wasn\u2019t it from a lobby group, for the Eros Foundation<\/a>?<\/p>\n Sliwczynski: <\/b>Yes, that means it originated from small business – and the people who are candidates now, come from a wide range of political backgrounds, cultural backgrounds. We have gender diversity – people that recognize themselves as intersex, transgender, gay lesbian, bisexual. People from all walks of life and all sorts. So I think that\u2019s what makes us really the best party.<\/p>\n Favell: <\/b>Would you say the basis of the party is to represent the Eros Foundation?<\/p>\n Sliwczynski: <\/b>No absolutely not.<\/p>\n Favell: <\/b>You\u2019re not really expecting to win in Batman are you?<\/p>\n Sliwczynski: <\/b>Well anything\u2019s possible and it depends on the preferences. I\u2019ve already looked at it statistically. There\u2019s a lot of shuffling around as you get to the final votes. There are few more independents this time so the preferences can change in regard to that.<\/p>\n Favell: <\/b>I couldn\u2019t see how you have preferenced for the House of Reps in Batman. What will your How-to-Vote cards look like?<\/p>\n Sliwczynski: <\/b>You\u2019ll have to see that on September the 7th.<\/p>\n Favell: <\/b>It\u2019s a surprise is it?<\/p>\n Sliwczynski: <\/b>At the moment.<\/p>\n Favell: <\/b>So are you putting the Greens last?<\/p>\n Sliwczynski: <\/b>No, we are putting extremist religious parties last, and then Liberal, but we are preferencing parties that have like-minded policies.<\/p>\n Favell: <\/b>Do you feel that the Greens are like-minded at all? There seems to be bit of a schism between the Greens and the Sex Party at the moment.\u00a0 It\u2019s all over Twitter\u2026<\/p>\n Sliwczynski: <\/b>Sounds like gossip.<\/p>\n Fiona Patten the leader of the Sex Party is quite open about ASP preferences being pragmatic, causing fury from Greens accusing ASP of bolstering One Nation\u2019s chances. <\/i><\/p>\n @DanJCass<\/a> @ABCTV<\/a> @Deskimo<\/a> Greens have been elected on One Nation prefs before. One Nation's refugee policy same as Lib\/Lab thesedays.<\/p>\n — Australian Sex Party (@aussexparty) August 29, 2013<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n