Election fever in #IndiVotes as 230 attend rural #Benalla candidates night: @jansant reports

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Wayne Jansson

Chief reporter & photographer at No Fibs

Wayne Jansson is an Australian citizen journalist and photographer. He covered the seat of Indi during the 2013 federal election and since has covered the growth of the community independent movement.

@jansant

Wayne Jansson

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Last night in the rural city of Benalla 230 #IndiVotes constituents attended a ‘meet the candidates’ evening hosted by local journalist Libby Price.

The candidates:

• Shane Wheatland UAP
• Helen Haines Ind
• Mark Byatt Nat
• Eric Kerr Lab
• Steve Martin Lib

The evening started with a short introduction from each of the candidates, then questions from voters that each had a chance to answer.

Both Haines and Kerr started their introduction by acknowledging the traditional owners.

Haines got a rousing reception when she mentioned #ClimateAction.

Haines – We need rural and regional planning, the government has a report they could act. We need climate policy with a rural focus, education and systematic barriers, rural health access. #indivotes #benalla #meetthecandidates #auspol #ausvotes

— Government Most Refoule – jansant (@Jansant) April 10, 2019

The first question was about the laws the Morrison Government is promising if re-elected.

Attorney-General Christian Porter in The Weekly Times:

The Morrison Government will, if re-elected, introduce a new criminal offence specifically designed to protect Australian farmers from the sort of vigilante action we have seen this week.

All condemned the actions of animal welfare activists — Wheatland cautioned about losing the right to protest.

Fast trains were on the agenda and the youngest candidate, Kerr, pointed out it’s an issue at every election and it’s just time to do it — I thought of The Bullet Train Guy from the 2013 campaign.

Kerr was a candidate at the 2016 election and during a Sky forum spoke strongly against his party’s refugee policy, completely missed by the media during Mirabella’s explosive revelations about the Abbott Government cutting Wangaratta Hospital funding by $10m because she’d lost Indi in 2013.

Haines and Kerr want the Adani coal mine in the Galilee Basin stopped, Martin started his answer by defending coal and launching an attack on, Haines that was shut down as quickly as it started.

Kerr Labor says #stopadani
UAP no #Adani policy

Nats Byatt won’t say if for or against Adani

Haines clean energy not coal – says #stopadani

Martin tried to trap Haines on coal – got whacked. Mentions sovereign risk – pro Adani.#indivotes #ausvotes#auspol #benalla

— Government Most Refoule – jansant (@Jansant) April 10, 2019

Big turnout for #indivotes forum which hears candidates condemn animal rightists, @HelenHaines1 slam Adani mine, @steveforindi say based on daughter’s experience NDIS not good enough and @EricKerrforIndi tell of friends lost to suicide. https://t.co/VJ2v0IiSKz

— anthony bunn (@adbunn) April 10, 2019

.@HelenHaines1 is hearing that #ClimateAction is at the forefront of local concerns. She wants to #Deliver for Regional Victoria and to do that we need a #ClimateChangePolicy #indivotes @BenallaEnsign @SheppNewsSport @EuroaGazette @ActOnClimateVic @WINNews_She @bordermail pic.twitter.com/YLRBGK46y3

— Shirley Saywell (@ShirlEuroa) April 10, 2019

Haines – increase funding to aged care.
Martin – thanks aged care workers.
Both hope RC will help lift standards. #indivotes #auspol #auspol

— Government Most Refoule – jansant (@Jansant) April 10, 2019

Lib’s head office to decide preferences.
Haines – I won’t be preferencing – vote 1 Haines.
Nats head office will decide.
Labor won’t decide preferences until all candidates in.
UAP something about a Palmer High Court case.
And Kerr says PHON last.

— Government Most Refoule – jansant (@Jansant) April 10, 2019

Haines – under-spend on NDIS must be restored – terrible process for accessing services. #indivotes #benalla

— Government Most Refoule – jansant (@Jansant) April 10, 2019

Byatt talks about commercial reality of providing disability services….. #indivotes

— Government Most Refoule – jansant (@Jansant) April 10, 2019

On Sunday at her launch in Wodonga, Haines declared the coming federal election a #ClimateElection and in Benalla last night Lib Martin briefly demonstrated he’s willing to accept that challenge.

The Standout feature of the night was the attendance, once again #IndiVotes is embracing participatory democracy.

You can see my tweets from the night here.

I’m trying to get a copy of a video that was shot of the event, if I can I will post it as an update.