Can you imagine a government that serves its people, where community concerns are placed at the centre of the political discussion? Can you imagine a community that engages with politics and want to be involved in decision making that shapes their future?
While many are increasingly disillusioned with politics, it's important not to become despondent with democracy. In order for it to work effectively, we as citizens need to participate. Voices of the Top End is a community campaign that aims to improve democratic participation and achieving better representation across the Top End through listening to the concerns and the vision of the community. This idea was inspired by the Cathy MacGowan and the Voices for Indi. The success within the federal electorate of Indi lead to the development of Community Independents Project. They have many great resources to encourage community participation in democracy.
When governments truly listen to communities' concerns, something seemingly ordinary becomes quite remarkable. Communities thrive when governments involve citizens in the decision making process. In Ireland the federal government uses with Citizens Assemblies to solves complex or controversial issues. In England Independents for Frome were a group of individuals who wanted to build a different way of doing politics at a local level. In Wales, they have a Commissioner for Future Generations whose role is to help public bodies change their behaviours and follow the requirements of the Well-being of Future Generations Act to improve the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of the people of Wales.
Australians want to be consulted in the decisions that affect them, and they want better representation. Communities are empowered by representatives who are willing to work with constituents to find solutions to complex challenges and making historical changes to the way politics is done in across Australia.
Here in the NT, Territorians want their concerns to be heard too and are willing to support community independent candidates to create the change they want to see in their communities. Territorians are supporting community independents who:
- listen to community concerns and are accountable to their electorate,
- are courageous, visionary leaders unrestrained by party politics or vested interests,
- maintain integrity and honesty,
- seek truth and base their policies on evidence,
- hold respect and empathy across the diversity of the community, and
- work with community to find solutions to complex challenges facing our society.
Our communities are home to people with lived experience and skills and ideas to ensure our society thrives. We just need representatives to listen and work with the community to find solutions together. But first, they need to help to get elected.
If these goals, values and ideas resonate with you, get in touch to become involved in your local community independent campaign!