The tide is turning in NT politics

The major parties have lost touch with what matters to ordinary people in the Top End. They're too busy looking after big corporations and interstate interests to fight for what our community needs. As an independent, I will be a circuit breaker in parliament - someone who cuts through the politics to get things done. I only answer to you - not party bosses or corporate donors. I'll work with anyone who wants to deliver results for Darwin and Palmerston, but I'll always put our community first.

Putting community first

Independents focus on their communities, not party politics or vested interests, and can deliver real results that work for Darwin and Palmerston. Independents can:

• Ensure genuine representation of the community - independents can assess each bill on its merits and vote according to their community's best interests, and don’t have to tow a party line. 
• Hold the government to account by shining a spotlight on promises or decisions they’ve made.
• Speak freely on national issues -  major parties are unwilling to undertake reform on many issues, such as gambling reform and multinational tax avoidance, for fear of upsetting powerful vested interests. 
• Improve legislation and negotiate better deals - freedom to work with all representatives to secure real benefits for real people. 
• Introduce new legislation and champion issues that major parties are reluctant to address.
• Consider legislation in light of the evidence base and long-term consequences - major parties are often tied to an ideology or legacy and short-term election cycles.
• Ensure otherwise ignored community perspectives and concerns are aired — for example, the work Jacqui Lambie did to highlight the challenges facing veterans, leading to the royal Commission and ultimately millions of additional dollars being directed towards veterans support. 

Independents are powerful voices who can set policy agendas, improve legislation, champion ignored issues, and push for greater transparency and accountability. Independents, free from party obligations, also have more time for their communities. 

Independents have a strong track record

Independents have a strong track record of delivering results, such as:

• Andrew Wilkie secured $340 million in federal funding for the Royal Hobart Hospital.
• Sophie Scamps secured $250 million to upgrade Mona Vale Rd in Mackellar in the most recent federal budget.
• Helen Haines helped secure 40% of all funding in Victoria for mobile phone blackspots making the electorate of Indi more connected than ever. 
• David Pocock succeeded in convincing the government to base the $251.7m new Australian Centre for Disease control in Canberra.
• National Anti-Corruption Commission: Led by Cathy McGowan and Helen Haines, Australia now has a federal watchdog tasked with investigating corruption at the highest level.
• If there is a power-sharing parliament, I will have even greater negotiating power to deliver for Darwin and Palmerston. The choice is clear: a backbencher who follows party orders, or an independent who fights for the community.

Party politics verses community listening 

Community independent candidates are different from major party and other candidates for the following reasons:

Roots in a ground-up grass-roots community process

• Community organising and listening - Inspired by Voices for Indi, communities organise, and bring people together for kitchen table conversations to hear what’s important to locals, if and how they want to be represented by their elected member. The process makes space for everyone to be included, is based on respectful conversations, and ensures everyone feels heard. These conversations grow connections and community, and when people are included and heard, they feel empowered. It is only after the listening process that the community decides if they want to find someone willing to represent their needs.
• The candidate is selected and endorsed by their community - entering politics is generally not on a community independent candidate's radar when they are approached by a community or decide to apply for an advertised position. Often they have participated in the community listening process and decide to stand, not for career aspirations or power, but to give their community the opportunity for better representation, and a different way of doing politics that puts people at the centre.

Committed to ‘Doing Politics Differently’ 

Community Independents are endorsed by their community and committed to the community compact and a different way of doing politics. It’s how politics should work. This is one where they:

• genuinely represent their community
• reflect the values and views of their electorates

• have a ‘compact’ with their community that guides their actions
• empower their communities through collaborating and partnering with them
• have processes for their communities to actively participate in politics
• are co-creating with their communities real political change in Australia.

This involves a commitment to a two-way process and ongoing conversation between the candidate if elected - where they will collaborate and share decision-making with their community through deliberative forums, such as town halls and community panels; while the community makes a promise to the MP that they will continue to actively participate in and thereby strengthen our democracy