Getting your head around community independents

In relation to our article Minority government: what will it look like?

Margaret Callinan, Hawthorn VIC 3122, Mar 10, 2025

Michael Keating’s article shows that he’s firmly stuck in the two-party system, unable to get his head around what community independents are – that “independent” means what it says and that, in government, it can and does work. When every vote they make is evidence-based and community considered, why would community independents effectively write a blank cheque to guarantee supply to one party or the other before knowing what is on the table after the election?

Once they know who they are dealing with (Will there be an upset in Dickson? We live in hope!) and what assurances the party leaders are willing to give regarding issues important to community independents, only then can a considered decision be made re supply. If you can’t guess climate, environment, integrity, transparency, evidence-based solutions regarding all the things that make up “cost of living”, then you haven’t been paying attention.

Once a party has been guaranteed supply, it will have to work for every supportive vote thereafter. But there will be no chaos. Unlike the Greens, community independents are pragmatic. Look at their past voting records, amendments moved and private members bills introduced. Bring on more community independents, better government, better outcomes!