POLITICS
‘Voices’ making call for an independent FORMER Liberal Leader John Hewson and former Independent MP for Indi Cathy McGowan will join forces this Saturday (19 June) in a free online forum to support the launch of Voices of Mornington Peninsula. The organisation aims to find a candidate to stand as an independent against sitting Liberal Flinders MP, Greg Hunt. Voices of Mornington Peninsula (VMP) is a not-for-profit organisation whose members “believe in the strength of community to effect positive change and, like many, are tired if the inaction of party politics and seek true independent representation at all political levels”. “Voices of Mornington Peninsula is an opportunity for residents to come together, find shared values, identify common issues, and then help select an independent candidate to represent those views at the next [federal] election,” VMP chair Dr Kate Lardner said. The online forum will be hosted by former ABC broadcaster and journalist Tracee Hutchison, who will be talking with Mr Hewson about Australia’s two-party political system and how that can be changed by independent candidates. Ms McGowan, the independent who in 2013 defeated sitting Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella, will outline principles of community engagement favoured by the growing “Voices of” movement and the strength and ben-
Political party wants ‘salary cut’ for MPs Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au
JOHN Hewson efits of having a community selected independent representing an area. Mr Hewson and Ms McGowan will be joined by local by co-founding director of VMP Louise Page, who will speak about the aims of the Voices movement here and peninsula residents can be part of “an exciting new wave of true political representation”. The other co-founders of VMP are Dr Lardner, charity founder Sean Willmore, designer and student Janelle Magee and small business operator Michael Stephens. After the online panel session there will be a questions and answers. Musician Tim Stout will also perform during the 90-minute session. To register for the online launch of Voices of Mornington Peninsula visit www.voicesofmornpen.org.au or search for Voices of Mornington Peninsula on Facebook and hit the events tab.
ALTHOUGH no date has been announced for the next federal election, Steve Anger has already announced he will seek to win Flinders for The New Liberals. Mr Anger, of Rosebud, will need to defeat sitting Liberal MP Greg Hunt, who is the minister for health and aged in the Scott Morrison-led government. Mr Hunt has held Flinders since being elected in 2001 and managed to fend off eight other candidates to win the 2019 election. He now holds the seat with a two candidate preferred majority of 11.28 per cent, 1.37 per cent less than his win in the previous election. Mr Anger says the term the “forgotten people” has never been more pertinent and relevant in Australian politics. “The government, the bureaucracy, the corporations and the cyber dictatorship have forgotten humanity and lost sight of community values and individual needs. While spruiking platitudes, they simply seek power as an end in itself,” he said. He was standing for The New Liberals because he believed the party “can work with our communities to redress the neglect of the last few decades and bring a thoughtful and caring ap-
STEVE Anger proach to politics”. “A country that invests in its citizen’s education, health and welfare while taking the urgent action needed for the environment will always succeed.” Mr Anger said he was one of five children brought up by a single mother. Having left school at 15 and worked in forestry and the railways, he eventually returned to study and became a lawyer. “I have worked for social justice in industrial relations with government, and as a barrister, in criminal justice and refugee law,” he said. Mr Anger describes The New liberals as “a progressive new party seeking to appeal to true small l Liberals and [Liberal party founder Sir
Mayor’s Short Story Writing Awards Mornington Peninsula Shire and the Peninsula Writers’ Club invite local writers to apply for the Mayor’s Short Story Writing Awards! The Awards aim to encourage and support Mornington Peninsula writers of all abilities, celebrate our diverse talent and showcase local stories and voices. Applications are currently open and close Sunday 1 August 2021 at 5pm. Applications will be judged by authors Gary Disher, Paul Kennedy and Danielle Binks alongside Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor Despi O’Connor.
HOW TO APPLY AND LEARN MORE mornpen.vic.gov.au/writingawards PAGE 12
Southern Peninsula News
16 June 2021
Award categories and prizes 8 – 12 years 500-word limit / short creative fiction only $500 prize and bookstore vouchers 12 – 17 years 1000-word limit / short creative fiction only $500 prize and bookstore vouchers 18+ years 2,000-word limit / short creative fiction only $1,000 prize and two-week Police Point Artist Residency
Robert] Menzies’ "forgotten people". He has “lived off and on” the peninsula for the past 20 years and made it his permanent home earlier this year. “I believe the current political parties are letting us down in so many areas and the parliament needs a fresh approach not dominated by career politicians,” Mr Anger said. “In particular, they have let us down on initiatives to combat climate change and combat threats to our environment. “Allied to this is the abandonment of small business and the great role that they can play in new emerging alternative energies and commercial practices.” The New Liberals website lists 37 policies, including animal welfare, arts, Australia Day, a bill of rights, climate change, domestic violence, full employment and job guarantee, law, national anthem (keep the tune but change lyrics), parliamentary salaries (cut by 20 per cent), political donations (allow, but ban “major political advertising” during election campaigns), tax (force corporations to “pay their fair share”) and water management (including phasing out water intensive crops). The website states: “We are not politicians. Most members of The New Liberals would never have entered politics, unless they were driven to do so, by the yawning nothingness offered by the other parties.”