Darren Churchill: Australian Democrats Campaigns

Darren Churchill Candidate for Ginninderra

Darren Churchill has lived most of his life in the Canberra region. Originally from Goulburn, he now lives in Kaleen. Darren has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Newcastle and a Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Wollongong. He has taught in secondary schools in both NSW and the ACT and is a registered relief teacher.

Darren has also worked in the music industry doing sound and lighting, and in the early 1990s was a band manager. Currently, Darren works part-time as a group fitness (Boxfit) instructor. As a Christian (Anglo-Catholic), he has strong views on human rights, equality, social justice and inclusiveness. In the long tradition of the Australian Democrats, he stands with the voiceless the marginalised and the oppressed in the fight for justice and equality.

Darren is a vegetarian and is greatly concerned about animal welfare and food labelling. He was active as a volunteer in the campaign to reinstate South Sydney Rabbitohs to the NRL, and was active in the Canberra Cosmos and Belconnen Blue Devils Supporters Groups. He supports the proposal for an A-League team for Canberra.

Darren stands for getting the balance right in legislative decisions. The result needs to be the right mix for the environment, the economy and social justice. He is a straight talker who represents the core Democrats values of honesty, tolerance and compassion. If elected, Darren will address transport, health, energy and planning in ways that will lead to a sustainable Canberra and a better future. He will take immediate action to develop an overarching transport plan that provides availability, accessibility and environmentally sustainability to cater for the ACT’s needs well into the future.

Managing our schools and quality education is high on his agenda, including adequate resources for public education and support for teachers. He will increase the availability and improve the management of public housing. Darren will provide for medical services and keeping people in the medical professions (especially nursing) and including women’s and mental health, and will immediately act to reform ACT electoral laws and accountability in government.

Darren will bring the Australian Democrats’ 31 years of legislative experience to the Assembly and offer practical, balanced solutions from the progressive centre. He will “Keep the Bastards Honest!”

Darren Churchill
Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au
Tel: 0412 196 473

ACT Democrats

KEEP THE BASTARDS HONEST!

The ACT Democrats have announced their first three candidates for the October ACT elections.

The candidates are:
Molonglo: Greg Tannahill, 28, whose interests include affordable housing, education, public transport and our videogame censorship laws.
Ginninderra: Marilyn Kay Dennis, 61, whose interests include public transport, low-income families and arts and culture.
Ginninderra: Darren Churchill, 43, the party President, whose interests include general transport, education, sustainability and governmental reform.

The federally registered party will contest the election in the Ungrouped column, as it is not registered in the ACT, and because the ACT’s electoral law will not allow it re-register in the same electoral cycle as when it lost registration.

The Democrats endorsed all three candidates last week and expect more to come on board as the election gets closer.

“We’ve got a good mix of candidates, a variety of ages, male and female, all with different backgrounds” Mr Churchill said.

The ACT Democrats first became active in Canberra politics in the ACT’s old House of Assembly, with Gordon Walsh and Ivor Vivian being strong advocates of ACT Self-Government from 1979 to 1985. The Democrats have contested every election since self-government, with Roslyn Dundas elected as member for Ginninderra from 2001 to 2004.

“The Democrats have 31 years of parliamentary experience to draw on. We are the natural party of the crossbenches, the negotiators. Four years of majority government in the ACT has been a disaster. Labor has been able to rush through any legislation it chooses. A Liberal majority government would be no better.”

“When there was a Democrat in the Assembly (Roslyn Dundas) from 2001 to 2004 things were different. We intend to make that difference again.”

“The only way to ensure fair legislation and make whoever governs accountable is by electing the ACT Democrats to Keep the Bastards Honest!” concluded Mr Churchill, emphasising the Democrats mission statement.

Darren Churchill
ACT Democrats President
darren.churchill@act.democrats.org.au
Tel: 0412 196 473