With Scott Morrison to (finally!) call the election, the ACT Greens launch their Federal Election pitch with a promise to “shake up politics”

With Scott Morrison to (finally!) call the election, the ACT Greens launch their Federal Election pitch with a promise to “shake up politics”

The Greens have today formally launched their election pitch to ACT voters, pledging to “shake up politics” with commitments to end new coal and gas, build affordable housing, abolish student debt and include dental and mental healthcare into Medicare - all by ensuring that billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share of tax.

With Prime Minister Scott Morrison expected to call the Federal Election over the weekend, the ACT Greens formally launched their campaign with aims of a strong Canberra contingent in Parliament - by winning both the second Senate seat, and the seat of Canberra. 

The Greens’ pitch to voters comes after almost two years of grassroots campaigning, building off the momentum of the 2020 ACT Election and the strong desire from Canberrans to take urgent action on climate change, expand Medicare and get big money out of politics. 

Polling released on Wednesday showed that Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng is the frontrunner to replace Liberal Senator Zed Seselja, while Tim Hollo is confident that this poll, on top of the results at the 2020 ACT Election, also put the Seat of Canberra well within reach. 

Statements attributable to Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng, ACT Greens lead candidate for the Senate 

“I’m really excited that this new polling reinforced what we've been hearing on the ground, that we are on track to win Zed Seselja’s Senate seat.”

“I’m running for the Greens in the Senate because being a senior First Nations woman, I have a responsibility to challenge the system which continues to deny First Nations people sovereignty, justice and the ability to implement our law - the oldest in existence. That means looking after everyone we share Country with, including future generations, animals and the country that gives us life.”

“I would bring a valuable and all too rare perspective, experience and expertise to the role. That of a senior First Nations woman, an academic, a unionist, public servant and public service whistleblower, while also drawing heavily on my experience working in frontline services, including in remote Aboriginal communities, women's refuges, and homeless and disability services.” 

“Canberrans want a voice in the Senate who will represent its progressive values, take urgent action on climate change, expand medicare and get big money out of politics.”

Further background and recent media statements of Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng can be found here

Statements attributable to Tim Hollo, Greens candidate for Canberra: 

‘I’m running for the seat of Canberra because this is my home, my community, and the place I could best represent. I’ve spent the past four years doorknocking Canberra’s streets and suburbs, facilitating community forums, and having thousands of conversations with people at stalls, online, and on the phone.’

‘My experience, backed up by polling, is that Canberrans are some of Australia’s most passionate advocates for urgent climate action, and truly understand how donations from the fossil fuel industry are holding back the action we need. 

Turning the seat of Canberra Green is stage two of the Greens’ four year plan that began with the goal of electing six MLAs in 2020. We deliberately focused our field campaigning on areas in Murrumbidgee and Ginninderra that overlap with the seat of Canberra, which was subsequently where we saw the largest swings.

‘We started campaigning for the federal election immediately after our hugely successful 2020 ACT Election. Being able to bring that momentum, along with the volunteer and staff team who delivered that result, gives us the very real opportunity win the seat of Canberra’ 

Further background and recent media statements of Tim Hollo can be found here