Current Affairs
Fabiano Cangelosi on his Candidacy
Controversial Labor Party candidate for Franklin, lawyer Fabiano Cangelosi, held a press conference on the Parliament Lawns. This transcript misses the first few minutes; the event was scheduled for 3pm, rescheduled for 2.30, then apparently started just before that.
Journalist
Given what you believe on protest and pokies, and given Labor’s position, do you think that voters will be confused when it comes to knowing who to vote for?
Fabiano Cangelosi
Voters should not be confused. Voters vote for a candidate who is a member of a party, The voters of Franklin’should have no doubt that I’m fully in accordance with fundamental Labor principles. And then when I am in the Tasmanian parliament, if I’m in the Tasmanian parliament, I will do everything in my power to stand on the principles that I believe, because I will not compromise on principles.
Journalist
Why was yesterday the right time to voice these concerns?
Fabiano Cangelosi
Members of the party have been asking me for some time about what my position is on these things. The election was called rapidly; I did not have time to speak to all of the members who wanted to personally meet with me. I made the decision to release a letter to the members so that they would have absolutely no doubt what my position is.
Journalist
You’ve called pokies money ‘blood money’. I would assume that the Farrell family, perhaps Federal Group, the THA may be giving money to Labor, which is in turn helping to fund your campaign. How do you square with that?
Fabiano Cangelosi
I don’t have any knowledge of donations made by any person to the Labor Party.
Journalist
But you do believe money from poker machines is blood money?
Fabiano Cangelosi
I do believe money from poker machines is blood money.
Journalist
What would you like to see happen with the MOU that Labor has signed with the THA?
Fabiano Cangelosi
My view is that there should not be a memorandum of understanding. My view is that pokie machines in Tasmania should be prohibited.
Journalist
And remind us again, sorry, of your views on the anti-protest laws. Can you explain those to me, the ones that Labor has proposed.
Fabiano Cangelosi
Labor has proposed an offence of aggravated trespass. I don’t consider that the creation of that offence and would do anything to support resource reliant communities. I don’t consider that it gives adequate protection to the fundamental right to protest.
Journalist
Why run with Labor, why not the Greens? Because these are two key Greens’ policies. Why not join Cassy and Rosalie?
Fabiano Cangelosi
Because you’re talking about policy. I’m talking about principles. I’m talking about things that underpin policies. Policies come, policies go, principles do not change.
Journalist
Are there other Labor Party policy platforms that you disagree with in the same way as these two?
Fabiano Cangelosi
There are. There will be a campaign launch in due course, and I intend to throw 10,000 volts through the Tasmanian Parliament if I’m elected.
Journalist
And in what ways will you do that?
Fabiano Cangelosi
I will make it very plain what my principles are and the principles that I stand on because principles matter.
Journalist
Are you the Labor Party’s Sue Hickey then?
Fabiano Cangelosi
I don’t know what means.
Journalist
Someone who would be elected on a party platform, and then speak against that platform publicly and often.
Fabiano Cangelosi
I don’t consider that I would be the Labor Party’s Sue Hickey, I think that that proposition is meaningless.
Tasmanian Times
The Liberals have referred to you as a Bob Brown Foundation lawyer. What is your relationship with the Bob Brown Foundation, if any?
Fabiano Cangelosi
I have no relationship with the Bob Brown Foundation.
Journalist
And there is still the rumour Fabiano that you moved from standing in Clark to standing in Franklin to block the preselection of Dean Winter. Did you do that?
Fabiano Cangelosi
That is wrong. I moved to run in Franklin in order to fight the Liberal Party in Franklin, to fight for the people. I live in Franklin.
Journalist
What do you think of Dean Winter’s candidacy?
Fabiano Cangelosi
I went to school with Dean Winter, he was one grade above me. I always knew him to be a very friendly person.
Journalist
You’re lawyer and would have due regard for process. Do you think Ben McGregor should have been sacked when there hadn’t been a (inaudible) process?
Fabiano Cangelosi
I do not know what process has taken place. You’d be asking me to guess what has happened and then to express a view about things. I simply cannot do that.
Journalist
Sorry. You said that Dean Winter was friendly but do you welcome his candidacy?
Fabiano Cangelosi
Plainly, there are many people who think that Dean Winter would make an excellent candidate. That is why we have elections, so that the people of Franklin can say who they want to represent them. It isn’t my place to say who should be on the Franklin ticket. As I say, Mr. Winter is a friendly person. I’ve not had discussions with Mr. Winter in a long time; I don’t know, in detail, what his policies are. I don’t know what his principles are, but he is a friendly person. And I imagine that many people in Franklin would like Mr. Winter.
Tasmanian Times
Can Labor still win this election?
Fabiano Cangelosi
Yes.
Tasmanian Times
How?
Fabiano Cangelosi
Because people will go to the ballot box and vote for them. Because members of the Labor Party are prepared to stand on principle. Members of the Labor Party are not owned by the Federal Group. Members of the Labor Party are prepared to say what they stand for. And I believe that the people of Franklin, Clark every other electorate in this state want people who speak their mind and mean what they say.
Journalist
Are you are a puppet of HACSU and Tim Jacobson?
Fabiano Cangelosi
No.
Journalist
But you are very close to them. And you would accept that you come from that side of the Labor Party?
Fabiano Cangelosi
No, I’m unaligned.
Journalist
You don’t accept that you’re you’re very close with Tim Jacobson and you’re part of that side of the Labor Party?
Fabiano Cangelosi
I’m an unaligned member of the Labor Party. I speak to many people in the Labor Party. I have spoken to Mr. Jacobson, I have spoken to other leaders of trade unions, I have spoken to members of the right faction. I’ve spoken to unaligned members of the party. Any suggestion that I’m from that part of the party because I happen to speak to particular people is wrong.
Journalist
Are they supporting your campaign in particluar?
Fabiano Cangelosi
I’ve had support from a number of quarters. I’ve had some support from members of the left faction. That’s correct. I’ve had support from unaligned members.
Journalist
And what about financial support from HACSU? Or any in-kind support?
Fabiano Cangelosi
I have had a small measure of in-kind support and a small measure of financial support.
Journalist
From HACSU?
Fabiano Cangelosi
Yes.
Journalist
I mean, it’s the same thing with Federals. People might say you’re in the pocket of HACSU as a result.
Fabiano Cangelosi
Well, I suppose the point is that when I sent my letter to the members of the party, I did not ask anyone in HACSU, ‘what are their thoughts’? No one in HACSU has said to me, ‘you ought to do this’. No one in any other party has said to me, ‘you ought to do this’. I’ve said what I’ve said because I stand on principle, because principles matter.