ACT
Democrats
Keep
the Bastards Honest!
Welcome to the web site of the ACT Division of the
Australian Democrats
This is a temporary website while an update is in
progress
The ACT Democrats
announce their first three candidates for the October 18 Election
To paraphrase Mark Twain: The reports of our death
have been greatly exaggerated.
Darren
Churchill
Candidate
for
Ginninderra
Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au
Darren grew up in Goulburn and studied at the Universities
of Newcastle and Wollongong. He has worked in the public service, banking,
retail and hospitality and taught commerce and geography both in NSW and the
ACT. He has managed rock bands and worked in the music industry and currently
works in the fitness industry.
Darren
has appeared on television as a representative of Newcastle on University
Challenge (1989) and captained Wollongong in Campus Challenge (1991). He has
campaigned for law reform, the environment and civil liberties, and he
understands the importance of managing competing environmental, economic and
societal issues. This ability and the ACT Democrats legislative experience is
what Darren aims to bring to the Assembly to "keep the bastards honest!"
Darren
wants a sustainable Canberra and a better future. If elected, he will take
immediate action to develop an overarching transport plan; adequately resource
public education; increase the availability of public housing; ensure women’s
and mental health issues are catered for and act to reform ACT electoral laws
and accountability in government.
Marilyn
Kay
Dennis
Candidate
for
Ginninderra
Marilyn.Kay.Dennis@act.democrats.org.au
Marilyn Kay was born in Sydney and worked as a bank officer
before marrying and moving to France. She raised three children, taught English
and dancing, led a sales team and worked with mentally handicapped adults. She
created a performing arts company, became interested in environmental, heritage
and cultural matters, then urbanism and local humanitarian and social issues.
She was local correspondent for Le Courrier de l'Ouest.
In France, Marilyn Kay worked closely with local government
on a number of committees, and has had a broad range of community involvement.
She believes that this experience, combined with that of the ACT Democrats,
will help her in "keeping the bastards honest".
Marilyn Kay stands for Honesty, Tolerance, Compassion. She
wants good government: good for the economy, good for the community, good for
the environment. She believes we need far more open, transparent policy debate
in Canberra, before making legislative decisions. We need straight talking on
tough issues.
Greg
Tannahill
Candidate
for
Molonglo
Greg.Tannahill@act.democrats.org.au
Greg grew up in Perth's northern suburbs before moving to
Canberra with his family in 1997 and graduating from Dickson College. He went
on to study law through the University of New England and currently works
supervising creation of court and parliamentary transcript. He also reports
videogame criticism and game industry analysis at gaming website The Dust Forms
Words.
Greg has retained a strong passion for writing and media
since an early age. In 1999 his short film 3:14 was honoured at the
Young Independent Movie Makers awards. Today Greg puts his writing to political
ends. He has been a supporter of the Australian Democrats over many years and
hopes to do more to improve his community.
Believing firmly in the Democrats' goals of social justice,
government accountability and community participation, Greg has chosen to stand
for office at the 2008 ACT elections. If elected, he will take action to fund
world-leading public education, ensure affordable housing for Canberrans from
all walks of life, and deliver the Australian Capital Territory the modern and
reliable public transport solution that it deserves.
ACT Democrats history
The Australian Democrats have been active in ACT politics
since the party was formed. From 1979 to 1985, Gordon Walsh and Ivor
Vivian were Democrats members of the old ACT House of Assembly. They were
strong advocates of ACT Self-Government. Gordon was also leader in the
House and Ivor chaired numerous committees.
In 1989, the Democrats contested the first post self-government ACT Election
and have contested every election since. Roslyn Dundas was the first ACT
Democrat elected to the Legislative Assembly, in 2001, and narrowly lost her
seat in 2004. At the time of her election, Roslyn was the youngest women
ever elected to an Australian Parliament. She set high standards for good
governance in the ACT and urged the removal of many forms of discrimination.
The 2004 ACT elections brought the disaster of majority government to the
ACT. Now the ACT Democrats have regrouped, reorganised and will contest
the 2008 election in an effort to reclaim the crossbenches. Their aim is
that whoever wins the ACT election; the Democrats will be there to "Keep
the Bastards Honest!"
The ACT Democrats are a part of the Australian Democrats.
More information about the party, its history, its policies and goals are
available from the national website at www.democrats.org.au
There is also a site for Young Australian Democrats (under
30) at www.yads.org.au and a Canberra
contact at yads@act.democrats.org.au
ACT Democrats President,
Darren Churchill
darren.churchill@act.democrats.org.au
Tel: 0412 196 473
http://darrenchurchill.wordpress.com/
ACT Democrats
PO Box 4070
Kingston ACT 2604
Authorised by D. Churchill, 29 Brunswick Circuit, Kaleen,
ACT 2617