Voices for Monash (V4M) was named as one of nine electorates to be supported by Climate 200 (C200) in the upcoming Federal election, based on the reality that Monash is now a marginal and winnable seat.
Climate 200 aims to challenge the status quo of outdated party politics by supporting community independent representatives.
As reported in The Guardian on June 17, C200 has identified which electorates in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales will receive community accelerator funding, set up to provide financial support for independent candidates backed by groups committed to doing politics differently.
Since V4M formed in May 2021, the group has worked hard to establish a supporter base and gain a good understanding of what the community has identified as issues in the Monash electorate.
The group said financial support has been provided to assist in spreading the message across the electorate about the need for our local federal MP to best represent the views and issues of the community, rather than a party platform that has no relevance to the specific needs of the Monash community.
V4M said the acknowledgment and support of C200 is greatly appreciated and is evidence it has worked hard to understand what matters to the Monash community, and it has an effective plan to engage with all sections of the community.
In a media statement, the group said "V4M's values of inclusion, equality, integrity and sustainability reflect the underpinning commitments C200 stands for and is reflected in the fine work of other Federal Independent MP's such as Monique Ryan, Zoe Daniels and Zali Steggall".
Candidate
President of V4M, Fiona Mckenzie, said the C200 funding was timely as it is in the process of candidate selection of its members in the next few weeks.
"Any additional funding to help us cover the expenses required to run this candidate selection process and expand our community engagement across the whole of the Monash electorate is more than welcome.
"The funding is recognition for months of hard work by V4M and its members to make sure the Voices of Monash have and will be heard."
Ms McKenzie said applications for a candidate closed on Friday June 28.
Monash voters who want to be part of the candidate selection process can apply for V4M membership.
Ms McKenzie said V4M members will be invited to attend a forum and hear from each prospective candidate before voting for their preferred independent representative.
In response to the recent announcement from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and his claims about energy prices, V4M economics spokesman suggested "the reason we pay so much for electricity in Australia is because the system has been privatised since the 90s".
"What is an essential service has turned into a blackhole of private profit from multiple for-profit companies carving up the value-supply-chain. The poles, the powerlines, the retailer, the operator, the generator, the distributor etc all seek profit while our costs for accessing the service to keep our lights on has skyrocketed," they said.
"As much as the neo-liberals espouse choice as a mantra, the public often receive worse services for more money as a result.
"Energy is an essential service, on this Mr Dutton is correct. The fact nuclear power is so ridiculously expensive compared to renewables, per kWh, is the elephant in the room.
"Of course, the Liberal party donors have an interest in nuclear and that is why it is being pushed, nothing else. I'm sure the people of Monash aren't keen on turning Loy Yang into a nuclear wasteland."
Further information about joining V4M, its values and the criteria for potential candidates can be found at the V4M website: www.v4m.org.au/get_involved
Or email: hello@v4m.org.au