Socialist Alliance candidates for Brownbill Ward in the Geelong Council election, Sue Bull and Sarah Hathway, who were among the first women candidates to nominate, have released their preferences, with the top seven positions going to progressive female candidates.
Bull, a health and safety teacher, lifelong trade unionist and the lead candidate for Socialist Alliance, said: “We’re hoping to maximise the progressive vote in Brownbill and by coincidence all the progressive candidates are women. This is wonderful, as one could hardly say that the Greater Geelong Council has ever been top-heavy with women councillors.”
Socialist Alliance’s first preference has gone to the Greens’ Sarah Mansfield. She is followed by Jennifer Gamble and Jacki Jacka from the Animal Justice Party. Their final preference goes to Melissa Cadwell and Ellen Csar, who, while not officially endorsed, have publicly stated their affiliation to Labor.
Hathway, who studies social work at Deakin University, said: “The decision made by the local Geelong branch of Socialist Alliance is a principled one, based on the policies of the candidates and the political organisations they represent or are affiliated with.
“Socialist Alliance does not do deals or trade preferences.”
Socialist Alliance policies in the election include:
- rejecting the privatisation and outsourcing of council services, rate capping, increases in the cost of council services and the overuse of consultants;
- prioritising sustainability and climate change;
- demanding a full audit of waste practices;
- putting the needs of the community before developer greed;
- broadening rate concessions to include all low income earners; and
- involving council in a plan to address homelessness and provide affordable rental properties.
Residents will start receiving their ballot papers for the election in the mail from October 10. Completed ballots must be posted or in the hands of the Returning Officer by 6 pm on October 27.
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