By Callum Ludwig
Voices For Casey is continuing its lead-up to next year’s election with an event bringing together some of the key names and faces of the community independents movement to date.
Kooyong MP Monique Ryan will be the headline speaker for ‘The Big Democracy Night Out’ free-to-enter event to be held in the Mount Evelyn Public Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 8 August.
Dr Ryan said she hopes to share with attendees what the experience of Kooyong’s community independent movement has been like.
“I want to just talk to the people of Casey about what our journey has been like, what it’s been like since I was elected and what I’ve been able to achieve offer that to the people of Casey as an example,” she said.
“Every electorate is different, every community is different in what they hope to achieve and what they want from their representative but I think that in Kooyong it’s been a pretty powerful movement and it’s been a really positive thing and I’m really looking forward to talking to your electorate about that as well.”
Dr Ryan was elected in Kooyong at the 2022 Federal Election ousting former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg with a preference count of 52.8 per cent to 47.1 per cent. Frydenberg previously held the seat with a margin of 6.4 per cent following the 2019 election.
Climate 200’s, which is providing funding support to Voices 4 Casey, Executive Director Byron Fay previously told the Star Mail that ‘from history that it often takes at least two go’s to win as an independent’, a sentiment Dr Ryan said does seem to hold true.
“It was certainly the case in Kooyong and it’s not a small thing to secure independent representation at a federal level,” she said.
“I think Casey is potentially right on track, I’m not on the grassroots in the electorate, but from what I can see, it seems like a very motivated, well-organised group of people,”
“I would think they are probably well-placed to potentially put a potentially successful candidate at the next federal election.”
Started only months out from the 2022 election, Voices For Casey has grown to a base of 300 volunteers and ‘launched the bird’ back in May in their efforts towards the next election and engagement with the electorate.
Voices for Casey President Dr Ani Wierenga said Dr Ryan’s success in Kooyong shows what independents can do.
“At this event, we’re drawing together some entertaining thinkers to talk about why independent representation in parliament is important, and why this matters even more now,” she said.
Voices for Casey’s 2022 election candidate Claire Ferris Miles will interview Dr Ryan, as well as the 2022 Community Independent candidate for Wannon Alex Dyson and Phil Haines who has been the campaign manager for Community Independent members for Indi Cathy McGowan and Helen Haines.
“I think it really speaks to the power of the people’s faith and commitment to the democratic process in Australia, Indi is very different from Kooyong and we’re both very different from Casey, but the people of the electorate want the same thing, they want representation by people who can advocate strongly and effectively on their behalf at a federal level,” Dr Ryan said
“Australia’s independent movement is something I’m extremely passionate about, so looking forward to connecting with the Casey community to discuss life, love and grass-roots political revolution,” Dyson said.
Casey’s Liberal MP Aaron Violi secured his current position with a margin of 1.5 per cent, replacing retiring MP Tony Smith. Ms Ferres Miles secured 8.34 per cent of the vote in Casey in 2022, behind the Liberal, Labor and Greens candidates.
