The tired, rusty conventions of Tasmania’s legislative council elections will get a wake-up call today, when community group, Nelson Voters 4 Change, launches poll results and a major radio ad campaign.
“From today until the pre-election media blackout, we will be demanding full-time representation for Nelson,” says Dr Juliet Lavers, President of Nelson Voters 4 Change.
“The current member for Nelson has worked part-time for 18 years now, and it’s time for this to change,” Dr Lavers says.
Members of the Nelson community will be using radio ads, letter-boxing and door-knocking to raise the issues of transparency and accountability in the Legislative Council, in the lead-up to the elections on May 4.
The group is confident that their position on full-time representation overwhelmingly represents community concern on the issue.
“Our polling in Nelson shows overwhelming support in the community for full-time representation, with 81 per cent of voters saying they want a full-time member.”
“Our poll also shows that more than half of Nelson don’t know who their Legislative Council representative is. This is hard to fathom considering he has been there for 18 years, but begins to make sense when you consider that he has worked part-time and has no electoral office, despite receiving over $160,000 in salary and allowances each year to represent us,” Dr Lavers says.
ReachTel poll results
ReachTEL conducted a six—question survey of 542 residents across the Tasmanian Legislative Council division Of Nelson. The survey was conducted the night of 4th April 2013.
Question 1. Do you know who your current Legislative Council member for the seat of Nelson is?
Andrew Wilkie
11.7%
David O’Byrne
3.9%
Jim Wilkinson
44.0%
Vanessa Goodwin
5.7%
Unsure
34.8%
Question 2. With an annual salary and allowances of over $160,000, do you think the role of Legislative Council member should be full-time?
Yes
81.0%
No
8.2%
Unsure
10.8%
The radio ad:
Did you know that your local member for Nelson works two jobs? The electoral act prevents us from telling you his name.
But we can tell you that he is a member of the legislative council and also works as a consultant in a legal firm.
And he is entitled to more than $160,000 in salary and allowances to represent you in the legislative council.
Next time you vote, vote for someone who’s only job is to represent you.
Authorised by Matthew Hastings, South Hobart.
