L-R: Michael Balderstone, James McKenzie, Mandy Nolan, Kevin Loughrey, Justine Elliot, Ian Mye at our pre-election forum. Photo: Eve Jeffrey
BayFM and Echo Publications hosted a pre-election forum in the Byron Theatre on Monday to introduce the public to the candidates for the electorate of Richmond ahead of the Federal election on May 3.
The forum was broadcast live and repeated on Wednesday’s Make a Change program giving locals a chance to revisit the various viewpoints of candidates. It was an opportunity for each to present their policies and respond to questions from the floor including ones about climate action and support for queer community members.
Nine of the ten candidates standing for Richmond were in attendance including the incumbent Justine Elliot (Labor), Mandy Nolan (Greens), Kevin Loughrey (Independent), James McKenzie (Independent), Richard Curtin (Gerard Rennick People First), Ian Mye (One Nation), and Phillip Peterkin (Trumpet of Patriots) who waved a wand to signify agreement with some of the more extreme statements from other candidates.
Michael Balderstone (representing Vivian McMahon from the legalise Cannabis Party) suggested we could solve the housing crisis by building dwellings from hemp in a ‘Green Belt’ along the east coast of Australia.
Nationals candidate, Kimberley Hone, was unable to attend, owing to a family emergency.
BayFM volunteers L-R: Monet Shortland, Michelle Michaels, Dione Green, Moderator Mia Armitage and Aslan Shand. Photo: Eve Jeffrey
The Forum was moderated by our Community Newsroom Executive Producer Mia Armitage with support from a team of excellent volunteers making the evening run like clockwork. Aslan Shand, Editor of the Echo online, ensured everyone stuck to their allocated time slots.
BayFM teams up with the Echo to host forums such as this ahead of every election. As champions of democracy we want to ensure that all voters have the best possible chance of hearing from candidates so that they can make informed decisions about who gets to represent us at a local, state and federal level.
May the best candidate win!
