It has been an interesting period over the past couple of
months as we the Child Protection Party have embarked on a campaign to have two
members elected to the Legislative Council. The battle for recognition and
media coverage has been a struggle. We understand that the Legislative Council
primarily, and minor parties, battle for a small space in the political
landscape. We have come to understand that minor parties have a restricted and
sometimes muted voice when it comes to the electoral process.
It is unfortunate that major parties dominate this space,
yet it is an important space, where minor parties need to have a voice. It is
sad to contemplate that a minor party may win the 10th and 11th
seat in the Legislative Council and by doing so will eliminate the voice of
another minor party.
During this electoral cycle it has been painful watching the
performance of Nick Xenophon as he marches from one media event to another. As
an observer of Mr Xenophon for many years and someone who has worked with him
as a breakeven gambling counsellor, it is fascinating how he is able to gather
media attention to the detriment of parties such as ours and other minor
parties.
We all have a voice and that voice needs to be heard. A
democracy should not be based on the party or the ideology which is dominant at
the time. It should also be based on hearing the voices of those who have
significant issues, whether they be singular or multilayered. The Child
Protection Party, as do the Dignity Party and other minor parties, represent
many of the people who would normally vote for any of the major political
parties. It is in the Legislative Council that these people have an opportunity
to have their view represented by voting specifically for issues that are
specific and relevant to their lives. It is disappointing that those views are
not represented via the media.
While energy, unemployment and State development are also
important, so are the singular issues raised by all minor parties. The Dignity
Party focus on issues which impact thousands of people in this state, and they
have a wonderful representative in Kelly Vincent. To my previous point, it
would be disappointing to lose someone of her calibre, intelligence and
advocacy. We understand that we are pitted against her in a fight for a seat in
the Legislative Council, however, we need to acknowledge the important role she
and other minor parties play in this state election.
Never before has any party specifically focused on the
well-being of children. Until Ms Vincent was elected, no political party had
focused on the disabled and the issues they bring to the table. What we
represent and what that of the Dignity Party represent are a significant group
of voters and in our case, non-voters who need to be represented at the highest
possible level. Primarily because major parties do not focus on these two
groups of people. Children and the disabled are ignored and should be
acknowledged and advocated for by all parties, but regretfully this does not
happen. Hence the need for minor parties to take the banner, and fight for
these people.
The fight though is difficult and long. It doesn’t end at
the voting but continues for as long as we have people who are prepared to
continue the fight. Elections come and go and there will always be minor
parties who have significant issues which need to be heard. We need their
voice, we need their advocacy, we need their passion. It is time that all minor
parties joined together as a coalition to advocate with a louder voice and with
authority.
It was somewhat disheartening to have the minor parties
contact us at the time preferences were being discussed. Self-interest dominated,
and anger prevailed. The Child Protection Party takes full responsibility for
failing to contact the minor parties prior to nominating preferences. It is
evident that some of the minor parties share the same ideology and have similar
policies. We could have joined together and discussed those similarities and
how we could gain attention from the media. It is my observation that we tend
to live in the same bubble, dominated by our own internal issues and our own
struggles in getting the message that we think is important to the voters.
The question we need to be asking ourselves is, “do we have
significant power and influence as an elected parliamentarian?” The Child
Protection Party believes that the sole reason while we are nominating for the Legislative
Council is because we can influence decisions on the issues which are important
to us and the community. We will filter all legislation that passes through the
upper house in light of the impact that legislation will have on children. We
have an opportunity to represent all children by ensuring that they have better
outcomes than they would if we were not there.
