Darren Churchill: Australian Democrats Campaigns

MEDIA RELEASE: Election 2010: Friday, 30th July 2010

Jeanie Walker – National spokesperson

Womens’ policy: where are the other parties?

The Australian Democrats are advancing plans for women that go well beyond the debate over the past day or so over who said what about paid parental leave.

The party’s principal Senate candidate, Jeanie Walker of South Australia, has released her party’s plans in relation to important policies on domestic violence, work-life balance, health and equal pay.

“But I wonder where the major parties are on these issues.

“It’s sad that we still have to talk about equal pay: after all these years of striving for equality, on average women in Australia still earn 10% less than men.

“Because of that pay gap, and because family responsibilities take women out of the workforce and superannuation, the Democrats when returned to parliament, will introduce a Work and Family Act.

“We want parents to have the right to flexible working hours, and the right to return to work part-time. More accessible child care is needed, especially for the under-twos.

“Too many women with children are forced to flee the family home because of partner violence and the Democrats are calling for more housing options and better legal and service responses.

“Our health system does not appear to recognise that women are 2-3 times more likely to suffer depression than men, particularly as an increasing number are experiencing the triple whammy of running their own homes, holding down a job and looking after ageing parents or caring for grandchildren.

“We’ve come a long way baby, as they said in the 70s, but we still haven’t got there yet” said Ms Walker.

Further comment:

Jeanie Walker ph. 0427 076336

Darren Churchill ph. 0412 196 473

(Full copies of the Democrats’ action plans for the Status of Women and Women’s Health are available on request)

MEDIA RELEASE: Election 2010: Thursday, 29th July 2010

Democrats field Senate candidates in all states and territories

As proof of the revival of the party, the Australian Democrats are fielding Senate candidates in all states and territories.

The party’s National President, Julia Melland, says that with the close of nominations today she is delighted to reveal this.

“So many commentators have dismissed us, but we are back and once again giving that choice to voters of a party with progressive centrist policies, rather than the simple right wing choices of Labor and Liberal of the left wing choice of the Greens. We believe the people of Australia deserve better than that.

“We are particularly pleased to be fielding a team of two in Tasmania when we were unable to field anyone in the 2007 election,” said Ms Melland.

The Senate line up is:

ACT

#1 Darren Churchill

#2 Anthony David

Northern Territory

Duncan Dean

NSW

#1 Fiona Clancy

#2 Jen Mitchell

Queensland

#1 Paul Stevenson

#2 Jen Cluse

South Australia

#1 Jeanie Walker

#2 Andrew Castrique

Tasmania

#1 Paulene Hutton

#2 Tim Neal

Victoria

#1 Roger Howe

#2 Rick Westgarth

Western Australia

#1 Paul Young

#2 Matthew Corica

Further comment:

Phone Julia Melland 0431 357 585

Phone Darren Churchill 0412 196 473

ACT Democrats 2010

Media Release: 23rd July 2010

ACT Democrats Senate team complete with announcement of No. 2 candidate

The Australian Democrats in the ACT today completed their Senate team when they announced their latest Senate candidate for the 2010 Federal election.

The No. 2 Senate candidate is Anthony David. Anthony is an IT specialist who has lived and raised his family in Canberra over the last 29 years. He has participated in the community life in Canberra in areas such as local area planning, reconciliation, transport and the environment. Anthony is particularly concerned about the failure of the Federal parliament to put a price on carbon emissions. He has recently graduated with honours from the ANU, modelling ocean carbon response over ice age cycles.

Anthony joins Darren Churchill as an endorsed candidate to complete the Australian Democrats ACT Senate team.

The Australian Democrats are finalising their candidates nationally.

“The past two years have shown the Senate is in need of the Australian Democrats” declared Anthony David. “I want to restore a voice of common sense and constructive legislative scrutiny to the upper house of our country.”

“My passion is to see a fair Australia, a sustainable economy and a social structure that looks after the vulnerable and enables its citizens to achieve their potential. Australia needs the revocation of the “NT Intervention” and the implementation of the recommendations of the “Little Children are Sacred” inquiry.”

“Being mindful of Australia’s disproportionate carbon emissions, we need an urgent investment in modern transport infrastructure.” said Anthony “I am also pleased that mental health has become a prominent issue in the media. I want to see an effective response by the next government and I will support innovative programs to improve our understanding and response to mental health issues.”

“Effective education at all ages is the cornerstone of our civil society. I am particularly concerned about the shortage of science and mathematics teachers. I want to see people trained in these fields take up the profession, especially primary teaching where the foundations are set. The Federal government has a vital role in the development and deployment of these resources.”

I want to work for the good of Canberrans and the people of the Jervis Bay Territory.” Anthony concluded.

Anthony David

Australian Democrats 2nd Senate Candidate for the ACT

anthony.david@democrats.org.au

Tel: 0414 581 385

Darren Churchill

Australian Democrats No.1 Senate Candidate for the ACT

darren.churchill@democrats.org.au

Tel: 0412 196 473

Anthony David No.2 Candidate for the Senate

Anthony David, 51, is an IT specialist who has lived and raised his family in Canberra over the last 29 years. He has participated in the community life in Canberra in areas such as local area planning, reconciliation, transport and the environment. Anthony is particularly concerned about the failure of the Federal parliament to put a price on carbon emissions. He has recently graduated with honours from the ANU, modelling the ocean carbon response over ice age cycles.

Anthony is a long-term member of the ACT Democrats, running as the No. 2 candidate for the Australian Democrats in the 2007 Federal election and was on the ticket for Ginninderra, which saw Roslyn Dundas elected to the ACT legislative assembly in 2001.

Over the past 13 years, Anthony enjoys playing Rugby with the ACT Veterans.

Anthony is proud of the Australian Democrats’ 31 years of legislative experience in the Senate, and will continue the same process of working for good legislative outcomes and offer practical, balanced solutions from the progressive centre.

Anthony David

anthony.david@democrats.org.au

Tel: 0414 581 385

Media Release: 23rd July, 2010

We’re here and we’re campaigning!

The Australian Democrats have chosen their lead Senate candidates in Victoria and South Australia to be their principal spokespersons for the party in the Federal election.

They are Roger Howe who leads the Victorian Senate team and is a software engineering manager, and Jeanie Walker, who leads the South Australian Senate team and is an Aboriginal youth support worker, qualified chef and well-known animal rights activist.

“As the progressive centre of politics, the party intends to field Senate candidates in every state and territory, plus some House of Representatives candidates” said Ms Walker.

“Australia has been sold short since Democrat representation ended in the Senate. Had the Democrats been there when the legislation was being debated, Australia would have had an emissions trading scheme in place by now.”

“We have a proud tradition of working with governments to improve legislation rather than blocking” said Mr Howe.

“We have been rebuilding the party over the past three years, have increasing membership numbers and growing enthusiasm.

“We will be campaigning in this election on the major issues of climate change and energy, education, population and asylum seekers, infrastructure and water, health and taxation.

“In the coming weeks we will be releasing our action plans on these and many more issues” said Mr Howe.

Further comment:

Roger Howe ph.0431 527 845

Jeanie Walker ph. 0427 076336

Darren Churchill ph. 0412 196 473