For an independent to succeed in Forrest, the community must find its position: Chaney (7 Mar 2024)
Article summary: At a recent event held at the ECU South West campus, approximately 100 attendees gathered to hear from Curtin MP Kate Chaney, signaling a burgeoning interest in community-based independent candidates for the upcoming federal election. Organised by Voices for Forrest, this gathering is part of a broader movement advocating for representatives deeply rooted in their local communities.
Kate Chaney's address, which concluded with a Q&A session, underscored the necessity for potential candidates in Forrest to keenly understand and align with the electorate's unique concerns. She emphasised that strategies effective in Curtin might not necessarily translate to success in the South West, highlighting the importance of local nuances in political campaigns.
This dialogue comes against the backdrop of the 2022 federal election, where the rise of "teal independents" captured national attention. These candidates, primarily challenging in traditionally Liberal seats, championed a blend of economically centrist and socially progressive policies. Although the phenomenon predominantly manifested in urban areas, Chaney and others cite the pioneering efforts of Cathy McGowan in the regional seat of Indi as the genesis of this movement. McGowan's victory in 2013, taking a seat held by the Liberal party for 36 years, underscored the potential for independent candidates to resonate deeply with regional constituencies.
Despite the recent prominence of teal independents in metropolitan contexts, Chaney believes the movement's roots in regional Australia are significant. She references Helen Haines' continuation of McGowan's legacy in Indi as evidence of the model's regional origins and its adaptability to urban settings.
The discussion at the ECU South West campus, coupled with the Voices for Forrest's ongoing deliberations about fielding a community independent candidate, reflects a broader faith in the democratic process. As Chaney articulated, the momentum behind this movement suggests a potential shift in political representation, driven by community engagement and a desire for genuine representation in Parliament.
