We get the representation we deserve …

One of the things I get to do in my day job as CEO of TFGA is to speak with many groups of people all around the state. Not too many are lucky enough to get this chance to meet with such a diverse range of people and share experiences and views.

The conversations vary from group to group, and from place to place. However, there are always some common threads. Without exception, Tasmanians are passionate about Tasmania – and about ensuring a secure and sustainable future for their industry, their local community, and the state as a whole. Almost everyone agrees that we’re not travelling well at the moment, and that we have the potential to do – and be – so much more. However, there as many views as to what vision of the future should look like, and how we achieve it, as there are people!

Inevitably, the conversations move on to politics – and the comments about our political representation are almost invariably negative, no matter what the political leanings of the individual.

My usual response is to ask what they have done to change this – and I am generally met with a blank stare or shrugged shoulders. “I don’t want to be involved” they say; or “I don’t like politicians”. Even worse, some say they don’t vote because they don’t think it makes any difference.

If we all take that view, then we truly do get the representation we deserve. If you aren’t prepared to take some responsibility and participate in the process, you certainly don’t have the right to complain about the results or to cast aspersions about those who do take part.

If we don’t speak up and put forward our views, the space will be filled by people who have often narrow and non-mainstream agendas. We need political representatives at all levels who truly understand their constituencies, and can relate to the things they feel are important. From a TFGA point of view, of course, we need representatives who understand and support our vital farming sector. But whoever they are, our elected representatives need to have the capacity for clear and rational thinking and for putting the well-being of their communities ahead of their own personal interests.

In times gone past, farmers often considered a term on council to be part of their community service obligation – before we’d ever heard that term coined! They also saw it as an important way of giving back their industry, too, as farmers are generally among the largest rate-paying sectors in a council area and having their voice heard in decision-making processes was deemed to be important.

Times have changed; and that expectation has changed too. It is harder to get people to put their hands up for these roles. And that is not a good thing.

My nanna was a wise woman, and she used to say you should never point a finger at someone else because, when you do, there are three fingers pointing back at you. It is easy to sit back and complain when decisions don’t reflect what individuals or sectional interests see as important. However, if you’re not prepared to have a go at making a difference, you’re really not in a position to complain about the outcomes.

Standing for election provides people with a great opportunity to influence the future direction of the local community and help those who require support. It can be daunting and time consuming, but also rewarding. Councils are complex organisations that require talented and dedicated individuals to participate in making the decisions that count.

Nominations for the 2014 local government elections close on Monday 29th September, with the polling period running from 14th – 28th October. I’d encourage you to think about whether you have what it takes to be part of creating the future for our local communities.

Remember, if we don’t take elections like this seriously, we won’t get serious representatives – and that is a recipe for disaster.
TFGA chief executive Jan Davis