Federal elections are on the horizon, with community Teal Independent candidates making a strong pitch to challenge the local Liberal held seats of Berowra and Bradfield. Bennelong, Warringah and Mackellar are already represented by Teal Independents who are seeking re-election. A redistribution of boundaries has abolished the seat of North Sydney.
Berowra has a new local community Teal Independent, Tina Brown, challenging incumbent Liberal Julian Leeser for a seat in federal parliament.
Liberal held Bradfield had the biggest swing against the Liberal party at the last federal election in favour of Teal Independent Nicolette Boele, who is again running for Bradfield, which now incorporates a large part of North Sydney.
There is a strong growing attraction in favour of community Teal Independent candidates. Liberal policies on offer include subsidised business lunches and cutting government spending. Teal Independents prioritise their communities’ needs. Teal policies include addressing the cost of living, housing affordability, climate change, and anti-corruption.
Voters will be required to elect federal members of parliament in a two tier system of government, namely the House of Representatives (Lower House) and the Senate (Upper House). The Lower House initiates and approves legislation, and the Senate scrutinises and approves the decisions and legislation of the Lower House.
Australia has a Preferential Voting system, whereby voters select candidates in order of preference. This means that candidates with the least votes in each round of counting are knocked out, until there is a preferential winner.
Voting is an important part of democracy. Choosing to vote informally, also known as a donkey vote, is to forego a voter’s democratic right to have a say as to who is elected. Each registered voter has the Power of One in deciding how and by whom our country is governed.