Federal Election Forum for Newcastle

   We held a Federal Election Forum at Hamilton Uniting Church 7pm Wednesday 4th May as host to participation in our community, to be in the public square fostering questions and answers so the community could have informed participation in our democratic processes, regardless of being a 'safe' Labor Seat with just over 13% margin in 2019! 

    My role was that of Organiser/Facilitator/Moderator, giving each Candidate 2mins for Introduction, then over the audience for Question each would have opportunity to answer as they chose. I have spent some time processing my observations of the evening, aware it's tricky to unpack and comment, having worked hard to give all equal time! 

    I can report, like two previous Forums in the Seat of Hunter, it is difficult to directly contact Candidates locally beyond the sitting Member, who has a staff, though it can be a week before response, which you haev more confidence in receiving. 

 Candidates via Electoral Commission at close of nominations 

 1. Sharon Claydon ALP replied, attended, participated 

2. Charlotte McCabe GREENS replied, attended, participated 

3. Emily Brollo ANIMAL JUSTICE replied, attended, participated 

4. Garth Pywell INDEPENDENT replied, attended, participated once I found direct contact 

5. Mark Watson PAULINE HANSON’S ONE NATION replied, attended, participated 

6. William Hussey INFORMED MEDICAL OPTIONS PARTY replied late in the afternoon, attended, participated 

 7. Katrina Wark LIBERAL never replied, rang the day after to explain absence - work project deadlines 

8. Amanda Cook UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY never replied 

    I offered an Acknowledgement of Country and a few Opening Remarks, mostly to values set and lay out the process to best allow a constructive conversation, answering the why are we hosting question on the way... 

Tonight, we acknowledge the custodians of the land and waterways, holders of wisdom, story and culture where we gather - the Awabakal and Worimi people. We pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. Here we value opportunities like the Ngramma Vigil at King Edward Park, to sit and listen to truth telling AND the Gimbay Gatigaan (or Friendly Mud Crab) story sharing at Throsby Creek, Carrington Parklands (even with the rain) here we are aware of our neighbours, Awabakal Medical Services and local Pre School. 

  A Few Remarks to “Set the Scene” Why is Hamilton Uniting Church hosting the Forum? 

We try to engage in our community. It includes Hamilton HIVE Community Hub next door AND “Bill’s Place” Op Shop & Tea Rooms, here -$7 cuppa and cake, five days a week, so we hear people’s stories - hurts and hopes across the community. 

 Flyn (for this story) came here experiencing homelessness, rough sleeping, not asking for money but looking for something of value to contribute, asking only a shower, help getting his clothes washed. Buckets of pebbles to stop weeds in our gardens and trimmed hedges, coffee and cake, Care in a shoebox package of toiletries and food in which we partner in with Hunter Homeless Connect, Wesley Mission and City of Newcastle later Flyn was grateful but we received more than we gave. 

One of our Mob donated a bike for us to sell and use the money for others. It sold for $100 on Marketplace in about 15 mins before Christmas. 5 minutes later Liz messaged, was it still available? She had a bike stolen which meant no rides to the beach with her daughter in the school holidays. We bought another bike with the proceeds to drop off, to their home in Hamilton South public housing 

Stories of the pressures of living with a shared public dimension, which we can’t genuinely meet without collaborators or bringing together organisations or people with resources and the power to change things. 

    Lastly, A working definition of POLITICS is ‘work’ or ethics done in public. It’s what emerges in the interactions between people and is not inherently corrupt, partisan or solely about compromise - those are all choices. 

   On a range of issues from First Peoples Voice, Treaty and Truth – action on climate change – to safety for refugees and people seeking asylum – economic participation for all, the Uniting Church nationally advocates flourishing life for all people and the environment, in a more just Australia. 

   We participate in the public square because as well as the dominance of the economy and shrinking role of government, there is civil society or work done in public, for the common good. 

   Tonight is about respectfully listening, ideas, policy, questions and answers... 

 Questions and Answers Context, not speeches or simply comments 

Invite general or particular Respectful listening Microphone, so everyone can hear you and participate + chairs... 

Reflections

 I've run three Forums in notional safe Labor Seats and either had no contact and/or no participation by a Coalition Candidate. The Greens have been articulate, clear and know their Policies, with good local connections and participate confidently. 

   Charlotte MCabe was committed to what the science of climate change requires of us in response to global warming, brought journalistic experience to commentary on wider issues and was able to respond to the few more testy interjections from the One Nation and Medical Options Candidates. 

   Emily Brollo had seen Candidates elected from a wholistic philosophy around just agriculture and experimentation, consumption and diet as they relate to the treatment of animals. Her values were clear and consistent and I was greatful she felt the values setting and Introduction created a safe space for dialogue. The one change I would make to the process was to take the mid session break and change the speaking order in part 2. 

   Garth Pywell's key motivation emerged as community engagement and consultation in democracy, town hall meetings on issues and 'change' as a motif vs 'more of the same. 

   Mark Watson is 'having a real crack' for Pauline Hanson's One Nation. A couple of personal interjections went a little too far and enthusiastic supporters do not legitimise a policy stance built on racism, jingoism, and macho nationalistic feelings misplaced as to blame or solutions, Mark's advocacy for small business, mining and miners gives voice to many peoples concerns in a 21st C economy needing to take a/c of CO2 levels. At the same time, in response to questions around 'Uluru Statement from the Heart,' One Woman a week in Australia dying from domestic violence and the flaws in the Family Court System ... a platform, value or outlook of "equality for everyone" fails to address existing inequalities, ignoring them in favour of meaningless statements. 

   Bill Hussey from "informed Medical Options' basically stands against 'no jab, no job' asking questions about the efficacy of the vaccine, profits for big pharma and Inquiries into the whol pandemic response in relation to those who've missed out on support or the creation of one rule for some. As former military and a Solicitor, Bill's answer on the Family Court was a helful response, as was Charlotte's suggestion of an Independent Body who drive the processes. Questions about who did and didn't receive economic support and whether vaccines are delivering what we hoped are valid questions. I couldn't help feel despite this, the driver of involvement around personal freedom above community responsibility carries underpinning values around "fairness" based in selective selfishness. 

But that's just my intuitive response. 

   Sharon Claydon is an active articulate local Labor member who took opportunity to outline key policies, to talk point of difference with others without doing so adversarily and worked with the equal time principle admirably. Target of a couple of unhelpful comments, Sharon stuck to the issues and ideas. On Refugees, Labor are wedged by the issues while light years ahead of LNP in empathy and compassion. On the Climate, likewise, yet not at levels the science asks. 

   This is where Politics is the art of the possible or compromise, revealing a part of the weakenss or our adversarial system. In all I believe a wide range of issues were canvassed and those in attendance had opportunity to hear exactly what each Candidate was offering and although we ran out of time for a final one or two questions we hit 8.33pm so wrapped up, offered thanks and headed into some informal chit chat and headed home!