Members of the NSW Farmers Federation (NFF)/Country Womens Association (CWA),
This to include the electors/good people of the greater "Parkes Electorate"
I wish to open by saying that while it seems to been a long held tradition to have events to meet and greet the candidates in person in any Federal Election, I believe given the 2 hr time constraints placed on the upcoming "Meet the Candidates" (6th May) to get through nine possible speakers (candidates) for that short a period of time...I believe for it to be (in the end), fruitful for both the members and the candidates themselves, this would be difficult, given the gravity/the amount of issues faced by our Australian society/Agricultural industry (as a whole), however, I apologise for my absence.
I wish all to know, thou it that may take time to read this "Open Letter" to you all. I suggest, no longer than say the 10 minutes allocated in any face to face with you, to be direct there will be so much time in the future to meet this Independent face to face, if elected.
I believe that in the near future if elected I will become somewhat of a nuisance, being that I cannot see myself spending any more time than I need to in Canberra itself, rubbing shoulders with other elected leaders, as personally speaking, I will see that my time is better spent being out in the electorate, and please feel free to hold me to this because, as long as the person to person conversations held out in the electorate are respectful (always), I personally think that being out and about will be my greater purpose.
I am often asked or faced with the misconception that as a True Independent that somehow I will not be able to do all things that a large party member can do for the electorate of "Parkes", but I would ask that you now consider the question be presented the other way around being:
"What can't a member of a current large major or minor party do that a True Independent can?"
More to the point, we as Aussie electors have grown comfortable with the notion that if we are in a considered "Safe" State/Federal seat that we will be looked after (funding wise) and not be thrown the "crumbs" (so to speak) if we collectively elect, say a True Independent.
If we take on board the goings on of the recent "Sports Rorts" (Federal level) and "Pork" barrelling (State level) affairs, put simply a subsequent Senate committee hearing/s revealed colour coded charts identifying from the majors where public taxpayers monies should be allocated in the event of the then election...and here is where it gets interesting...
...Most of the allocations where placed in firstly, Liberal held seats...not National party seats...but if any monies are allocated to National party seats in the regions...the bulk of the monies gets placed into the marginal seats OR those seats that are again marginal but held by the opposition... and "NOT" in comfortable safe seats like say the "Parkes" electorate...
In very recent times this has been again highlighted by a supplementary Federal Senate committee hearing/s just prior to this Federal election...as it happens that when the National Party Minister was pressed on the matter of funding, it was revealed that this time there were no spreadsheets...per say...but a coloured map of Australia showing where the current Liberal/National government would focus it's pool of taxpayers monies towards...in which electorate...in the lead up to this 2022 election...and surprise surprise...the safe seats such as "Parkes" electorate were excluded.
Taking the time to reflect now, with the above in mind, it seems that no longer is it good to continue to overwhelmingly support one party or another in any given electorate, if it is now taken for granted that a safe seat will still be in the hands of the incumbent post-election...is it now (perceived) that the major/minor party thinking is to forget safe seats with regards to election sweetners...in the pursuit of seats these parties see as "up for grabs" OR are held marginally?
So, in recapping, to continue as an electorate ("Parkes") to ensure the incumbent is feeling safe and secure all the time, how is that playing out?...When thinking about ourselves in private industry positions...do we as humans, tend to work harder if we feel that there is a up and coming young "wipper snapper" that may take our job away...do we not think this is now the same with safe seats in electorates?...
...No matter which level of government, are we not to think the same...so why then (respectfully)...do I as a True Independent get branded with:
"Oh you will only be there to pick up the crumbs"
...When clearly, the now safer the seat, the less of the election spends will occur...I will leave this all with you...
Moving on slightly and remembering this...how long have we had mobile phone technology, signal towers etc, and why is it...in the seat of "Parkes" especially, are we still (for the most part) in the "stone age" re-reception wise, in quite a lot of our vast electorate...and this considering that this seat of "Parkes" has been in the hands of the same (Federal) incumbent party for the best part of 40 years...well before mobile phones...during the roll out of towers...and still to this very day...waiting for "New Technologies" to arrive...?
...How is this situation still possible, if indeed the concept or mindset of being in a "safe" major party seat is supposed to pay dividends...I would now argue the complete opposite is occurring, and is true...so can it now not be said that under decades of the same "safe" incumbent, getting the "crumbs" effect still occurs, regardless...otherwise the connectivity issue should have been fixed decades in the making ago, should it not?
Turning now to the disgusting situation, that has recently occurred within the Liverpool Plains with regards to the pressing ahead with the fracking etc plans regardless of recent NFF intervention...
Firstly, may I take this time to say that I was immensely proud as a Aussie to see that the NFF with the obvious backing from the CWA...were able to "claw" back from the brink, these beautiful, fruitful plains, from total destruction...relating to a foreign owned mining corporation taking over...great to see...however, as it turns out, there was to be another surprise from our State Liberal/National Government, which needs no further introduction.
Considering the timing for our Federal Election, personally I think this State run decision, could not have come at a worse time for the Federal incumbent because regardless of it being said that this is a state issue...may I remind the electors/NFF/CWA members, that due to the fact that currently we have a Liberal/National state run government...the biggest difference between this Independent and the current Federal Liberal/National incumbent is that if this decision was to have occurred on my watch...I would have the ability to wade in to the fight with a metaphorical "sledge hammer"...
...Why...as an Independent, I am not constrained to come out to publicly and condemn a Liberal/National party State/Federal government...
...Even if the current Federal incumbent wanted to, think of the party optics of going against ones own State Liberal/National Party...I believe it will be near impossible for the current Federal National "Parkes" leader to do anything against the very same party (at a State level)...this to rectify or even contemplate to overturn any of these recent State Liberal/National decisions, that have very recently been made, regarding the NFF "Hard Fought For"...Liverpool Plains.
No amount of protest, no amount of petitions raised, will force the current Federal Liberal/National Incumbent to go against the very same party (in my opinion) without fear of being ostracised, cast out of the party itself...but yet we as Aussies keep wanting, wishing for both State and Federal to be run by the same ideologies/parties...
...And that is fine while these parties still wish to serve the greater demographic of voter/electors and not now simply get behind massive corporate interests because of the perceived now limited numbers of farmers that will be tossed out or effected in the Liverpool Plains...will be negligible...
One of the major reasons that I stood up to run as an Independent, as a farmer, I considered I was no longer being treated as the Liberal/Nationals party OR the Labor party (for that matter)...as the priority...and please remember, large corporations donations/plum positions after political life...seem to be the flavour of the day...when considering what is being said here...
...Is that what the collective membership of the NFF/CWA and the greater "Parkes" electorate still want...by ensuring time and time again in supporting a safe seat incumbent whom cannot and will not go against any action (detrimental or otherwise) that their party (State/Federal) comes up with...and that is nothing personal against the current Liberal/National incumbent, it is just a fact for this incumbent...being considered as "one spoke" in a "mega" party/faction wheel...
I of course, as a True Independent...I will have no such loyalty to anything or anyone...and never will...this in keeping with "going down the same path" and expecting a different result, it could be said, (with respect)...is somewhat of an unproductive approach when all is said and done, for all "safe" electorates not just "Parkes".
Proposing yet another question to all that may read this letter...as a True Independent:
Why do the electors of "Parkes" possibly think that if this Independent was to win this seat from the incumbent...why would anyone suggest that this Independent would not...firstly, complete any works the incumbent started...if indeed monies have already been allocated?...
...And secondly...
Why would I not press either the Liberal/National or the Labor Party on securing any election promises that either have promised in the lead up to this Federal election...?
I go into this in more detail in a recent video:
..."HOLD THE PARTIES TO ACCOUNT"...
...In short, I will be able to move where I please, jump onto any offerings from any party because I am an Independent...because I have no restrictions...because I have no desire to be the exact opposite to any good idea or reject any given party's legislation that moves us all forward.
"Why do some Aussies suggest, that as a True Independent of anything or anyone...that I would not be shouting from the "roof tops" at both the majors and the minors (if thats the case)...putting my hand out for the seat of "Parkes"?"
...To say such begs true belief.
Moving onto those other (perceived) "dirty words"...a "Hung Parliament"...these two words...are just two words put together, are an effort to scare the socks off any elector/voter...into thinking this is a bad thing for our governance...this to ensure the two party preferred system lives on...
...Think about this for a moment, and I am tipping this situation could occur...Imagine if this (Hung Parliament) situation to was to take place...and the seat of "Parkes" fell to this Independent being that I was elected...the majors will suggest that it's all too hard to have to negotiate with Independents etc to run government, but may I remind electors/members, that this will ensure the very best outcomes for the "Parkes" electorate...not the opposite.
Given what was said above, and now introducing into the conversation the recent article about the need for at least $5 billion spent on connectivity out in the Central/Far West NSW...
"Why do you the electors/members think that this $5 billion will not miraculously occur overnight, in a "Hung Parliament" situation?"
..If I, (this Independent) was to hold the balance of power...and:
"Why do the electors/members still think the monies will suddenly appear...after some 14 years personally - 40 years of the incumbent being in the "safe seat"...just because now the electors wish it to be?"
With "all" the above in mind, can the Electors/NFF/CWA members not now openly and objectively consider that I (this Independent) will have more chance under a so called "Hung Parliament" (with the balance of power)...to force the spending of the needed $5 billion to happen/bring about an overturning of "fracking" to the Liverpool Plains etc...
...Do you all collectively...not quietly think...that if this so desperately needed $5 Billion to finish decades of need...for network connectivity...would not have already been done by now, if it was a priority, under the current incumbent?
Instead we have the suggestion to some voters/electors recently...
"Why don't you just get a satellite phone"
The above could be also be said...if somehow it is seen as an option...to place your votes towards the opposition ALP...
"Do members really think collectively, that this major ALP party will allow their "Parkes" representative free reign to object or step out of the way of the major party line...?"
...I say not, without being rejected by the ALP party itself...and again, being only a junior member of a ALP parliament, do we collectively think that the "Parkes" electorate under the rule of the opposition will take as a priority the central/far west NSW as part of its total priority list...in all things that are being considered in the future by the ALP...because:
"Why" (by now) has the opposition itself, not made a priority to connect properly the central/far West NSW to the required networks...the ALP could have made this attempt through trying to pass required legislation well before now, as decades have passed...to try and win over the "Parkes" electorate...but sadly the ALP has not...
...And what comes of the things we don't like that we are seeing/hearing that the ALP will gravitate towards if elected...will the ALP take on the "Gas Giants" (if elected) in the pursuit of protecting, once again...the Liverpool Plains...ask yourselves...where is the opposition on this?
If I can now take things to a more personal level, waking up every day...when was the last time that you or your family received something from either major party in terms of legislation that actually helps not hinder a family's existence...or make it easier, and not take away...
...Forgetting for a moment the Agricultural side of our existence...when collectively, did being part of or voting for the major/minor parties...did this result in relief in some way for your families...not just in the greater "Parkes" electorate...but all over this great country of ours...
...Why is it still considered a must have...watching both sides of two party system...go at each other...and nothing positive being the outcome...other than coming up with (perceived) sinister ways of say controlling your spending habits (Indue Card) or trying to outright ban the use of your "cash" for amounts over a given limit...OR looking to move completely to a "Digital Currency" in our near future...can anyone imagine the surveillance state that will come with such a move?...
...Or what about relieving us all from 900 must have Medicare items...or spending the same amount of monies that would be needed for the "Parkes" electorate phone/connect network upgrade of $5.5 billion dollars...in paying the French Government, for a contract breech for submarines we will never see...
...When the drought hit its devastating peak...how much paperwork (for financial relief for farmers) was there to fill out, at a time when farmers were suiciding over having to shoot thousands of their livestock...and how painful was it to witness price gouging by feed suppliers, when Aussie farmers were at their most desperate...
...And what about the last reaction of Liberal/National government to the floods in Lismore...what if our greatest fears about the current route and engineering of the "Inland Rail" come true (re-massive future flooding)...in our near future and these predicted massive floods start to wipe out great sections of our pristine farming/grazing land...do we think the current government/s will be there spending any of the $4.8 billion disaster relief fund on farmers that have been impacted by major future floods...?
This Independent may mean little to some in this upcoming election, but I can tell you this for certain...
"I definitely will hold a hose, anytime that it is needed...I definitely can operate tele-handlers/bobcats/trucks - all types of heavy machinery (given the opportunity)...I am an ex-farmer...I am a "Ex"...lot of things...
...In fact I have a wealth of real life experience ready to draw upon across so many industries, that when compared to these so called leaders (that we have now)...with no life experience, or if indeed they have...it has been spent for the best part of decades, in being across only one type of industry or worse still...they are the majority from legal backgrounds and/or professional politicians...and "God knows" we all don't need more barristers/professional politicians to lead us, when our country hits a new crises point in the future?
I put to you the collective...people of the electorate/NFF members/CWA members...whom are you going to feel most comfortable with if things in the future go badly wrong on so many fronts...more of the same...or maybe consider for the first time in giving your backing to a very experienced individual Independent...
...With the personal flexibility to move in any direction quickly, make my own decisions as to what will be the morally correct way to move forward...put your faith in someone that actually has the scars, the bark missing from life's hard knocks...or are you going to keep considering the same leadership hoping that something will change?
In closing to all the people of the electorate/NFF members/CWA members, and being brutally honest for a moment...if I was to self-describe, I would take this opportunity to suggest that I am a somewhat of a no nonsense person whom does not suffer fools very well (to a possible fault)...I can be very direct, I don't enjoy watching these so called leaders try and "Kiss Babies" and tell you good people what you want to hear in order to get elected...I shudder at the thought of someone forcing another to shake my hand...
...I do not do the networking thing well, I have always been one to rely on my own steam rather than others whom have let me down badly in the past...I have a beautiful lady at my side who is my best friend in the world and that I would die to protect her with every last breath that I would take.
My country...our country...is in deep trouble, in my opinion...on so many fronts...and to try and counter this fear I have done what many do not even try to attempt (given all their resources)...to do, and that is to stand up for my country and my people...to be counted...and should I fail in this attempt, I can at least stand tall and look at myself in the mirror, and proudly say...
"At least I tried my best to bring about great change in our direction, before it is to late".
Dear Electors & NFF/CWA members,
My name is Stuart Howe, your Independent Candidate for the Parkes Electorate...I think it important to mention that I have been personally decorated for acts of bravery in saving the lives of others...and no matter what my future holds...in any capacity, I will be there to stand by and defend my country and my fellow Aussies...and if need be...I will give my life in the pursuit of doing so...
I thank you all for your time in listening to me...our future is now in your collective hands...
Kind Regards
Stuart Howe
Federal Independent Candidate "Parkes Electorate"
Please take the time to visit:
www.stuarthoweparkescandidate.com
(80+ policies, videos and abundant written conversations)