Democratic Alternative Information Service:
  Resources

Media Releases

16 October 1997 - Sunshine Coast

COAST CANDIDATES ARE ALL FOR THE REPUBLIC

The Sunshine Coast's conservative image looks set to take a battering, as candidates gear up to start their campaigns for the Constitutional Convention election. Statewide, just over half of the 129 candidates for the 13 Convention places have declared themselves as republicans. In the Sunshine Coast region, though, it's a different story, with no sign of a monarchist candidate or even an "undecided".

First Queenslander to nominate for the election was independent Charles Mollison of Woombye. A Vietnam veteran and treasurer of the Constitutional Centenary Foundation, Charles has a passionate interest in Australia's democratic future and believes it's time to improve our system.

Di Hungerford of Nambour has also nominated as an independent republican. Di is well-known as a result of her educational and environmental involvement, and believes she can bring the perspective of an average working Australian to the Convention.

One of the largest groups, the Australian Republican Movement, has three candidates from the Sunshine Coast: Ray Barraclough of Maleny, Xandra Flach of Bli Bli and Gerry Fowler of Palmwoods. Gerry is the youngest candidate in the field, having turned eighteen a few days before nominations closed.

Further north, Chris Toogood of Noosa is part of the "Elect the President" group. Going further still, into the Wide Bay region in search of a monarchist, we come to Bob Snowden of Pialba - another republican.

Turning south instead, Kyla Arentz, a final-year engineering student of Bongaree, is another enthusiastic independent republican. To break the monarchist drought while staying north of Brisbane, we must turn west to Kingaroy, where we find a lady called Florence Bjelke-Petersen, running as part of the Constitutional Monarchists group.

Information on all Queensland candidates can be found on the Internet, at an address of www.suncoast.com.au/republic/convention. The information has been collated and published by Ross Garrad, another independent candidate, who grew up on a farm at Palmwoods but currently lives in Brisbane. Since he comes from the Sunshine Coast, he is of course a republican.

Ross Garrad - Candidate for the Constitutional Convention
Fax/Message (07) 3378 2296
republic@suncoast.com.au

4 November 1997 (Statewide No. 1)

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION CANDIDATES ON THE INTERNET

Queensland candidates for the Constitutional Convention are definitely the most Internet-aware in the country. Nine candidates or groups have included a World Wide Web address in their statements, to be mailed out to voters with ballot papers in the next ten days, and four have included e-mail addresses. The next highest totals are in Victoria, with seven Web addresses and one e-mail address, while New South Wales, with its huge field of 174 candidates, can only manage four Web addresses and one e-mail address.

Queensland has now pulled further ahead, with the launch of an online candidate list to which all candidates have been invited to add extra information and contact details. Fifteen candidates or groups have now included Web links to sites offering additional information, while 21 have included e-mail addresses, allowing the Internet user to send an immediate message to the candidate, after clicking on the address. This service has been particularly well received by independent candidates of all persuasions. It is now a very useful resource for voters searching for a candidate who will properly represent their views and aspirations.

The candidate list has been compiled by independent republican candidate, Ross Garrad, and can be found on the World Wide Web at

www.suncoast.com.au/republic/convention

Information is available on the geographical distribution of candidates, as well as their positions on the major issues of the republic and the selection of Australia's Head of State. The current republican/monarchist scorecard is:

Ross Garrad - Candidate for the Constitutional Convention
Fax/Message (07) 3378 2296
republic@suncoast.com.au

Ross Garrad, 9 November 1997