The ACT Greens have announced two Federal election candidates – Isabel Mudford (left) for the Federal Division of Canberra and Christina Hobbs for the Senate. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
The ACT Greens have named more candidates for the upcoming Federal election, including for the seat of Canberra, which the party says is “winnable”.
Community sector worker and LGBTQIA+ advocate Isabel Mudford has been chosen to contest the Federal Division of Canberra, which Labor’s Alicia Payne retained in 2019.
The 31-year-old Canberra local felt the current Federal Government isn’t representing the Canberra “I know and love”, citing what she said was insufficient action by the other major parties to address climate change and inequality.
“I see my peers and myself bearing the brunt of the unfair and rapidly growing inequality crisis in this country where we know that young people in my generation – millennials – will be worse off than their parents’ generation,” she said.
“I see [running] as the best opportunity to make the most amount of change as soon as possible.”
Ms Mudford argued that if the Greens could secure the Canberra seat, it would likely give the party a larger balance of power in the House of Representatives.
“We would want to use that as the best negotiating power with a Labor Government to make them as progressive as possible,” she said.
“Canberra can make a big difference by voting for the Greens. The ACT Greens have fought to make this seat a contest between us and the ALP, and for the first time, we’re voting in this seat with a Federal Labor Government.”
Looking at the Territory specifically, Ms Mudford felt the fastest thing the Federal Government could do to benefit Canberrans was to forgive the local government’s housing debt.
“That would allow us to build more public houses and social houses for people in Canberra who are doing it tough,” she said.
Public transport would also be high on her list, getting more support to see light rail extend south and to Belconnen as quickly as possible.
These local issues are also important to the ACT Greens’ leading Senate candidate, Christina Hobbs.
It’s the second time the former UN humanitarian advisor, ethical financial services executive and mother-of-two has contested a Federal election, having run for the party in 2016.
She said the last election showed the two-party system had “broken down”, with David Pocock securing a seat.
“Like many other Canberrans, I feel completely let down by the ability of either major party to tackle the cost of living, housing and climate crises. The ALP seems content to only tinker at the edges, and we know that Dutton would be worse. We need urgent change now,” Ms Hobbs said.
“It’s clear Canberrans increasingly want representatives who will take bold action on climate and integrity.”
Senator Pocock has been pushing for Canberra to have more Senate seats, and there are now suggestions that Labor is considering legislating two more seats by the end of the year.
Ms Hobbs said this would give Canberrans more options to get progressive representation.
“We know, based on the last election, there would only be about 4000 votes separating Labor from the Greens, so this will provide Canberrans with an incredible opportunity to vote for another progressive Senator who is actually going to vote in the Senate on issues that are going to make a difference in terms of climate change, cost of living and housing,” she said.
“This is going to be a highly winnable election for the Greens. It will be one of the tightest contests in the nation.”
Joining Ms Hobbs on the ACT Greens Senate ticket will be former teacher, policy advisor and public housing tenant Jordan Rocke.
The ACT Greens will complete their Federal pre-selections for the Divisions of Bean and Fenner later in the year.
Original Article published by Claire Fenwicke on Riotact.
