Pic of the meeting by Lauren McKinnon Photography: https://www.facebook.com/laurenmckinnonphotography/
A good crowd attended the We Will Be Heard public meeting last Thursday night in Launceston. Many people voiced their concern that not all Bass candidates are willing to engage with constituents who hold views contrary to their own.
The meeting was broadly representative of the Launceston community including retirees, small business operators, teachers, nurses, students, and clergy, across the full spectrum of adult age-brackets.
Anyone from a political party was asked to identify themselves and to listen to the meeting. Candidate Ross Hart (ALP) along with Senators Peter Whish-Wilson (Greens) and Lisa Singh (ALP) were present. Greens candidate Terrill Riley Gibson was an apology due to her mother’s recent death.
Most of the meeting was given over to local residents expressing their concerns as they see them. Twenty six residents raised a wide range of issues. Despite some deep hurt and anger, comments were respectful throughout.
Patrick, of Launceston, said, “Australia needs to return to the principles of democracy and not be governed by three word slogans.”
Local resident Megan was very sad that the member for Bass “only feels he needs to hear people he likes or agrees with.”
Others spoke about NBN, underemployment, care for the elderly, the Medicare freeze, renewable energy, LGBTI issues, climate change, Australian aid and Gonsky.
Nine people were upset that their questions or perspectives had been blocked on Mr Nikolic’s facebook page.
Lindy said, “The way we treat refugees takes away their hopes. We can act with humanity. There are ways.”
Matthew, from Launceston, added that “Mr Nikolic has a military background and those who ask questions are put into the ‘enemy’ camp.
• Richard Kopf in Comments: Yes little Johnny brought the budget into the black and despite having sold almost every asset belonging to the Government, including our gold reserves, having presided through the height of the mining boom, put nothing away for a rainy day. He was giving it away as tax breaks to win elections.
• Terrill Riley-Gibson in Comments: HERE Greens candidate for the seat of Bass, Terrill Riley-Gibson makes the following statement on Andrew Nikolic’s boycott of the community debate hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and the Examiner newspaper. Ms Riley-Gibson said, “Andrew Nikolic is apparently boycotting the major community debate because I as Greens candidate was also invited to participate. “I have come to the decision that I will be withdrawing from this debate so that Andrew Nikolic has no excuses anymore for dodging scrutiny. “I am an award-winning businesswoman and member of the Launceston Chamber of Commerce but somehow Andrew Nikolic thinks I have no right to be there …
