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Dr Helen Haines (Ind-Indi) – Maiden Speech

Aug 01, 2019

This is the maiden speech to the House of Representatives by Dr Helen Haines, the independent member for Indi, Victoria.

Haines won Indi at the May 18, 2019 elections. Replacing Cathy McGowan, she became the first independent to succeed another independent.

Listen to Haines (27m):

Watch Haines (28m):

Hansard transcript of maiden speech by Dr Helen Haines, Independent member for Indi.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the honourable member for Indi, I remind the House that this is the honourable member’s first speech and I ask the House to extend to her the usual courtesies.

Dr HAINES (Indi) (12:04): Mr Speaker, congratulations to you on your appointment as Speaker and thank you for your warm welcome to me in this place.

Today as I rise in this House to give my first speech, I acknowledge the Ngunawal and Ngambri peoples, who are the traditional custodians of the Canberra area, and pay respect to the elders, past and present, of all Australia’s Indigenous peoples. I especially acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands across my large electorate of Indi—lands of the Wavereoo, Dhudhuroa, Bpangerang and Taungurung peoples. I honour the resilience, wisdom, dignity, scientific knowledge, the stories and art of the world’s longest surviving culture. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2019 Federal Election, Audio, House of Reps, Independents, Maiden Speeches, Video Tagged With: , ,

Government’s Victory Assured But Still No Definite Results In Key Seats

Jul 08, 2016

10.00pm – The Turnbull government’s position improved in counting of House of Representatives seats today but an absolute majority of 76 seats is still not confirmed.

There is no change to the standing of the various parties tonight. The Coalition has 74 seats, the ALP 66, and Others 5.

The ALP remains ahead in all of the 5 remaining doubtful seats – Capricornia, Flynn, Herbert, Hindmarsh and Cowan. If these leads are maintained, the Coalition will finish with 74 seats, the ALP 71, and Others 5.

However, the ALP’s lead narrowed in 4 seats. In Capricornia, the ALP’s lead fell from 476 to 174. A total of 9,868 declaration votes remain to be counted, including 4,711 postals and 3,268 absentee votes. The LNP has been receiving 57.54% of postal votes, but no absentees have yet been counted. The ALP received 50.67% of absentees in the last election.

In Flynn, the ALP’s lead has shrunk from 646 to just 7. There are 7,734 declaration votes still to count, including 4,640 postals and 1,728 absentees. The LNP has been receiving 63.93% of postals. In 2013, the LNP also garnered 57.19% of absentees. At some point, Flynn is expected to move into the Coalition’s column. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Federal Election, A.L.P., House of Reps, Liberal National Party, Liberal Party, The Nationals, Turnbull Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Cathy McGowan: I Voted With Government 90% Of The Time But Opposed Devastating Cuts

Jun 23, 2016

Cathy McGowan, the independent member for Indi, has released a television advertisement in which she “sets the record straight” on her voting record in parliament.

McGowan says she voted with the government 90% of the time but opposed “devastating cuts” to higher education, social services and youth allowance. She describes herself as local, effective and “fiercely independent”.

McGowan

With the election just over a week away, it is intriguing that McGowan feels the need to point out her voting record in parliament. It indicates possible criticism in the electorate, or uneasiness over who she would support in the event of a hung parliament. There could be a sense that she is too close to the ALP and/or Greens. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Federal Election, Audio, Election Advertisements, Independents, Video Tagged With: , , , ,

27 Enrolment Irregularities In Indi Referred To Federal Police

Oct 02, 2014

The Australian Electoral Commission has referred allegations against 27 electors in the Victorian division of Indi to the Federal Police.

The irregularities involve suggestions that the electors falsely declared they were eligible to enrol in Indi at the 2013 federal election. Some of the electors are thought to have been students in Melbourne and some are believed to be former residents who had moved away.

Indi was won by Cathy McGowan. She defeated the sitting Liberal member, Sophie Mirabella, by 439 votes. McGowan’s insurgent campaign surprised the Liberal Party, which had represented Indi since 1977. Mirabella held the seat for 4 terms from 2001. The seat had been held by Liberal and Country/Nationals members since 1931. [Read more…]

Filed Under: AEC, Franchise-Enrolment Tagged With: , , ,
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