BY MICHAEL FORNO
As the July 2 election approaches the new Senate election rules will at last be put to the test. These changes mean that voters will exert greater control over their vote and party preference deals are less effectual than in previous elections. These changes will make it more difficult for independent or micro-party members to be elected to the Senate. There are 40 parties running candidates for NSW in the Senate. The number of actual candidates, both partied and independent exceeds 150.
Knowing each candidate of the major parties or what the micro parties stand for can be exceedingly difficult. So here is a brief overview of the NSW candidates for the Senate.
The Coalition’s main candidates and sitting Senators include Arthur Sinodinos, a former investment banker and chief of staff to John Howard who was subsequently embroiled in corruption allegations over political donations made to the Liberal Party from Australian Water Holdings whilst simultaneously being a director of the of the company and honorary treasure to the Liberal Party.
Marise Payne, former minister for human services in the Abbott Government, now the Defence Minister. She has overseen the final stages of the competitive tender process for the $50bn contracts to build 12 submarines in Adelaide.
Fiona Nash is Deputy Leader of the National Party. In 2008 she was sacked, by then opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull, for crossing the floor of the upper house and siding with the Greens in a vote for a bill granting a tax break for carbon sinks. Her opposition to the bill was on the grounds that such a tax break would encourage big business to dominate agricultural land with plantations designed for carbon offsetting. In 2014 the senate censured her for failing to provide documents regarding her then chief of staff’s conflict of interest, as his wife owned a lobby company which represented fast food corporations.
The Labor Party’s main candidates and sitting Senators include Sam Dastyari, a young and ambitious trade unionist and former NSW secretary of the Labor Party. One of the “faceless men” who rolled Kevin Rudd, he entered the Senate in 2013, filling the casual vacancy left by Matt Thistlewaite, with the backing of the right wing faction of the Labor Party.
Doug Cameron is the current shadow Minister for Human Services. He was a strong supporter of Kevin Rudd during the ongoing leadership tension with Julia Gillard. He is the former secretary to the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and has close connection with the union movement, himself a former fitter and machinist.
Deborah O’Neill is a former lecturer in Education and was the MP for Robertson before filling the senate vacancy left by the resignation of Bob Carr.
Lee Rhiannon is the only Greens Senator from NSW and entered the Senate following the 2010 election. She has a long held stance against live animal exports, the greyhound racing industry and the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
The Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm is also looking to keep his place in the Upper House. His election victory in 2013 is attributed to voter confusion over his party’s name resembling the Liberal Party’s, and to a large proportion of donkey votes. His tenure has been notable– following the Martin Place Siege he proposed there be greater access to guns, he is open to free trade and the genetic modification of food. He supports same sex marriage, legalising medicinal marijuana, and euthanasia. He is a self described libertarian and is influenced by the writings of economist and advisor to Ronald Reagan, Milton Friedman.
There are numerous personality parties including Jaqui Lambie Network whose policies include better veteran welfare, government regulation of halal certification, and limiting access to negative gearing tax concession.
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party whose policies include legalising euthanasia and medicinal marijuana, a zero net immigration and a range of anti-islamic policies.
Nick Xenophon Team’s major policy platform is anti-gambling. Other personality parties include Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party, Katter’s Australia Party and Palmer United Party.
There are also numerous single platform parties including the Health Australia Party, the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party, the Veteran’s Party, the Animal Justice Party, and the Renewable Energy Party.
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