I, Mark Aldridge, hereby issue a public
challenge to all contenders for the up-coming March State elections. My
challenge is that each of you pledges genuine
allegiance to your relevant South Australian electorate and staunchly refuse to
pander to the all-mighty 2 party preferred political machine.
I plan to stand as an Independent Member of the
Legislative Council for the State of South Australia. The primary task of
members elected to the Legislative Council is to scrutinise all government
legislation before allowing or denying its passage through State Parliament.
Independent MLC's are the much-needed watchdogs FOR the people. In this role
MLC's continually remind the elected government that Australia is a signatory
to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and any legislation brought
before Parliament always need to reflect those enshrined core values.
Using the recent Mintabie experience, published Hansard excerpts reflected the
contempt some elected representatives have for those who elect them. That
episode resulted in the removal of standard Australian freedoms from a whole
community, without evidence, in some what similar fashion to the jailing of the
innocent for association at the same time removing their fundamental rights of
the presumption of innocence and any idea of equality before the law.
Further advantages in having Independent MLCs is that they have more
flexibility to safeguard the fundamental civil rights of the public by denying
implementation of legislations that have the potential to abuse. The
fundamental rights and interests of disadvantaged sectors of communities
including the frail aged, the mentally ill, ethnic groups, social groups, etc,
are zealously guarded and maintained.
The implementation of SOCCA, (Serious and Organized Crime Control Act.) the
Mental Health Act. and many other pieces of recent legislative change would not
have had my support while they included sections that deny South Australians
basic rights, freedoms and liberties.
I am the man to buck the unhealthy trend of self-serving politicians. You know
the type, once voted into office they blindly follow the party line, put their
hand out for perks, but somehow forget to represent the very constituents who
elected them.
While not a university trained ‘expert’, I am a compassionate man with
valuable, first hand experience of the dreaded family court. I have known the
struggles faced by those caring for disabled children. Tangled with the family
law labyrinth. I have actively lobbied our current ‘representatives’ for road
safety issues, taxation reform and the like, all long-term goals that exceed
any short-term political gains.
My primary experience has been in the retail, wholesale sale and manufacturing
sectors. Yes, those practical areas of business where one needs to be not only
organised just to survive, but is required to listen to the customer to thrive.
I have also studied politics and basic legal studies for over 12 years and, as
the owner of a native animal sanctuary, I have a strong, ongoing interest in
animal rights, along with the preservation of their habitat.
I am open to informed and educated debate that encourages a change in mindset
on a number of issues including:
- A
major overhaul of our education system. This, together with priority for
the protection of our children, is paramount for dealing with
generational change.
- Future
governmental position will be filled via open and honest public
invitation. If we are to provide generous financial reward, it needs be
to the most experienced rather then those with the best government
connections. No more ‘jobs for the boys’.
- Overhaul
of the electoral system via a truly independent authority. For too long
our electoral system has been manipulated by allowing those that write
the law to benefit from changed structural biases. The present Joint
Standing Committee on Electoral matters, comprises of current sitting
members, and even their findings are ignored by our current ‘2 party
preferred’ system of parliament. The preferences of a truly informed
electorate should be the paramount priority. The option of lobbying
federally for a Citizen Initiated Referendum will be explored as will any
issues of democracy to ensure the people remain the shareholders of their
future.
- Government
spending must be prioritised with essential services and infrastructure
as the primary goal. Sufficient moneys could be raised through ensuring
any business operating in our state pays its share. Hand-outs, at any
government level, must be done in a transparent and open manner.
- It
needs to be acknowledged that rural communities are suffering due to lack
of meaningful, political representation due to their representation
having little sway in big party politics. These ‘unrepresented’ voters
are enduring on-going and compounding infrastructure problems compared to
their city counter parts. I feel we are all getting fed up with the
endless supply of highly paid ‘experts’ that either lack understanding of
the truth as we all know it, or are in-fact are paid to come up with the
answer that suits the agenda of the government of the day. Water is a
prime example; millions spent, nothing achieved. Similar equity issues
also surround our indigenous Australian’s health and sovereignty.
- Populate
or perish? This policy benefits the immediate recipients of Governmental
spending, any system of administration that looks forward to a future of
5 million people or more, yet only provide’s the vital infrastructure for
1 million are either incompetent or deluded. Priority must go to ensuring
adequate and stable essential services and infrastructure before any
future population growth is even considered. Currently short-sighted
State and Federal governments are playing useless attempts at catch up
after the fact, at the tax payers and community’s expense.
Federal issues will always have a place on my agenda given the fact that I have
spent nearly a decade in the federal arena. The Fight for a Fair Go can no
longer be explained in simple terms. We appear to have headed so far down the
wrong path that turning back seems impossible. Particularly in respects to what
appears a huge ‘for sale’ sign on our land and resources. And the direction of
Australia’s financial future seems to be at the expense of our quality of life.
We can make a new path. I, for one, would prefer to live in a safe,
compassionate and fair society, rather than one where material issues reign
supreme. Access to basic needs such as potable water, quality local produce, a
safe community for our children, reliable and plentiful infrastructure and
equity for all, are my priorities.
After having spent many years lobbying in the federal arena, mine is a voice
that has the potential to travel into the ears of key federal representatives.
South Australia is populated by some of the best thinkers and workers. Before
we lose them by stunting their growth and stifling their innovation let South
Australia lead the way creatively to prosperity.
Our rich mineral assets need to be spent
wisely to ensure our long term future, their sell off as slurry to profit
others has become acceptable as our current representatives see our long term
future as the time between elections, I see it as further than 200 years, lets
make the most of all we have.
Refuse to re-elect those who dare to strangle and repress the hard fought
Australian rights and freedoms we have come to expect, that of all Australians
and those of minorities. Remember you may also one day be considered part of an
expendable minority in the future.
Mark M Aldridge
MLC Independent Candidate
P O Box 1073 Virginia S.A. 5120
08 82847482 / 0403379500
