Local Democrat appeals to small ‘l’ Liberals in Bennelong
15 October 2007
Peter Goldfinch is the Australian Democrats candidate for Bennelong in the November election. Having also stood in 2001 and 2004 against Mr Howard, Peter will once again give Bennelong voters the political ‘centre’ option represented by the Democrats.
“Bennelong voters have been given the dubious honour of choosing both the next member and how the Howard Government will be viewed by history if Mr Howard loses his seat. I predict a no-holds-barred; even a dirty campaign because the stakes are so high.” said Peter.
“Interestingly, in my discussions with voters who say they are normally Liberal supporters I have found quite a number expressing concern that the Prime Minister’s values no longer represent them. These small ‘l’ Liberals, as I call them, understand the preferential voting system and are looking for an alternative for their first preference to demonstrate their unhappiness. I believe the Democrats are in a great position to pick up votes this election from disaffected Liberal voters who feel the need to protest but cant bring themselves to vote for parties of the ‘left’” said Peter.
“Remember.” Peter said, “Don Chipp, when he founded the Democrats in 1977, he was a refugee from the Liberal party to the political ‘centre’. Over the last 30 years the Democrats have created a proud history of being able to cooperate with governments of both persuasions in the Senate. Not all minor parties can make that claim.”
“I am so glad the election has now been called” said Peter.” On top of the 1.7 Billion dollars already spent advertising his government since 1996, until last weekend Mr Howard was still spending a million dollars a day of public funds promoting his government. What a poor example that has been to young people spending government money that might otherwise have been spent fixing our hospitals our schools and our universities.”
”I hope the social researcher Hugh McKay is right when he says young people en mass are about to reengage with community activities because we oldies have not looked after the planet nor the social infrastructure; not even the physical infrastructure for our city that they are going to need. Additionally we have allowed the tax system to be so short sighted as to inflate house prices which means our kids will be unable to live anywhere near their parents or their grandparents. Long commutes destroy community participation and puts enormous pressures family.”
Peter has lived in the Bennelong district since 1970. He has grown up, been educated and raised his own family in the area and developed a deep commitment to the wellbeing of his community. In part he puts that commitment into practice as a community nurse in northern Sydney. His standing as a political candidate in an unwinable lower house seat helps support the Democrats Senate candidate, Lyn Shumack, but is another example of his preparedness to work hard for his belief in community values for no reward. He has been the Bennelong Democrats candidate in the last two federal elections and has promised his three girls (Peter wryly states it is a “non-core” promise) that he will retire from politics when John Howard does.