Balance of power in community hands?

New political movement to contest Victorian election

Describing itself as the voice of the community sector, People Power is running with a campaign of empowering families, consumers, people with mental and physical disabilities, the aged, volunteers, community organisations, small business and individuals. According to ProBono Australia, the party plans contesting state elections in:

• Victoria November 2006
• Queensland (by February 2007)
• NSW (by March 2007)

To be announced at a launch event on 15 June in Melbourne, the Victorian team of up to 30 candidates includes a ‘tantalizing’ list of candidates with NonProfit backgrounds:

• former owner of Crickey.dot.com & founding member, Stephen Mayne
• western suburbs community campaigner, Les Twentyman
• high profile AFL identities with strong charity sector links
• ?anti-pokies? campaigner Gabriella Burns
• Karin Orpen – current councillor & former City of Knox Mayor
• Sarah Barton – parent of a child with a disability
• Mike Noske – Mayor of Portland.

The new party says it represents a broad mainstream of society that is currently without political voice or representation in the parliament.

The campaign will be led by Jack Reilly, former Deputy Secretary of Treasury in Victoria and a Socceroo legend. (Australia?s goalkeeper in the 1974 World Cup) Reilly will stand in the Northern Metropolitan Region for the Upper House.

President and Co-founder, Vern Hughes says in Victoria they aim to win several seats in the new Victorian Upper House and hold the balance of power, and to win three seats in the lower house.

Hughes, who is also the Executive Director of Social Enterprise Partnerships says:

• the party is about ordinary people wanting to reclaim state governments and re-order their priorities, values and resources;
• it will place a high priority on disability and mental health;
• it is neither left nor right but – ?bottom up? ? attracting people and groups that don?t fit into the traditional left or right ideal;
• in Victoria the party will challenge the bi-partisan obsession with ?major projects? and focus on a reduction of bureaucracy, red tape and waste of tax payers? money.