Anyone interested in representing Voices for Monash as an independent candidate at the next federal election has until the end of this week to apply.
Voices for Monash (V4M) was formed in May 2021 by a group of concerned locals who felt the Monash electorate's political representation did not adequately reflect the community's values nor effectively address the major issues facing our region and nation.
At the last federal election in 2022, lawyer Deb Leonard was endorsed by the V4M committee. Achieving more than 21 per cent of the vote after preferences, Deb helped to make Monash a marginal seat with now ex-Liberal party member, Russell Broadbent holding on by a margin of only 2.9 per cent.
Based on community feedback, Voices for Monash is seeking independent representation for Monash at the next federal election and has began an independent candidate selection process.
Recent success for community aligned independents has seen a growing cross-bench of MPs, calling both major parties to account. V4M see these efforts as the only way to push back against corporate control of public policies, especially inaction on climate and a lack of accountability, as well as the entrenched gender divide operating in politics and more broadly in society.
Voices for Monash president Fiona McKenzie encouraged anyone interested in becoming the Monash independent candidate to contact the Voices committee for a confidential conversation about applying for this critical role.
"The committee group has been holding a number of community engagements over the past few months and there is a strong growth in the number of voters in Monash who are dissatisfied with their current representative and what he stands for," she said.
Candidate applications close at 6pm on June 16. The process will include shortlisting candidates who will then present to a Voices for Monash Members' forum on July 13 on why they would be the best person to represent Monash in federal parliament. Members of V4M will then vote for their preferred candidate.
Further information about joining V4M to have your say, read about it's purpose and values plus the criteria for potential candidates can be found at www.v4m.org.au and the Facebook page facebook.com/formonash