Imagine if your voice was being heard
May 2022 Federal Election
A short explainer video providing additional background on the VoNS Represent Me! Quiz is accessible here.
Make Your Vote Count
Myths + Preferences Explained
A video debunking some of the principal myths concerning preference allocations and explaining how to best optimise your desired outcome from this election, is accessible here.
VoNS Meet The Candidates Session
On the 4th May VoNS hosted a Meet The Candidates session at the Willoughby Park Bowling Club. The candidates who attended were:
Heather ARMSTRONG (The Greens)
William BOURKE (Sustainable Australia party)
Victor KLINE (TNL – formerly The New Liberals)
Robert NALBANDIAN (United Australia Party)
Catherine RENSHAW (Labor)
Kylea TINK (Independent)
Helen DALLEY was the Moderator.
A full recording of the session is accessible here.
'What is the Senate and why are we running?’
Jane Caro & Hannah Maher chat with Madeleine Hinch
On 14th of April VoNS hosted a discussion with the Reason Party candidates, Jane Caro and Hannah Maher who are standing for the Senate. Here is the full recording of the session. We aim to post an edited highlights versions in the next couple of weeks.
Willoughby by-election Feb 2022 was closer than you think
The recent Willoughby by-election brought about by the resignation of Gladys Bereijiklian was a surprisingly close race between Tim James the successful Liberal candidate and local community independent Larissa Penn. The result could have been different if the NSW election had MANDATORY preferential voting as we do in Federal elections, instead of OPTIONAL preferential voting. This short 10minute video explains why and how the result may have been different.
VISION
Come together to understand the most important issues for people in North Sydney and find a representative who will fight for them in Parliament.
VALUES
We welcome and encourage participation by all people, irrespective of political allegiance, age, gender, through inclusion, deliberation and integrity.
ACTION
From coming to a kitchen table meeting to door-knocking there is much to do. Acting together we can change the way the system established works.
RESOURCES
Better democracy is the key to making and enacting good policy for the things that matter to us. To build this democratic engagement, we are organising social Kitchen Table Conversation events at PUBS and CLUBS near you
Declaration of Independents
Voices of North Sydney was initially focussed on federal issues, but though our conversations it became clear that integrity and the need for more accountability at the local government level is also needed. The voting processes appear to favour parties and it is more difficult for true independents to be elected.
It is important for true ‘community-minded independents’ to be identifiable and to promote their shared values: not being associated with a party, how they will engage with the electorate and strengthen participation in democracy, and personal behaviour.
Here is the ‘Declaration of Independents’ (pun intended!). Please share and promote and ask independent candidates to sign and send back to us.
Summary of feedback
Here is a summary of our ‘kitchen table conversations’ in 2020 and ‘Voices in the pub’ in 2021.
The 2021 sessions looked at both Federal and local issues.
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The North Sydney Federal electorate is: Artarmon, Crows Nest, Cammeray, Castlecrag, Cremorne, Chatswood, Greenwich, Henley, Hunters Hill, Kirribilli, Lane Cove, Longueville, McMahons Point, Middle Cove, Naremburn, Northbridge, North Sydney, Riverview, St Leonards, Waverton, Willoughby, Woolwich