Mccoll hoping for progressive change
Acandidate for the federal seat of Mallee hopes a ‘small’ electoral swing against the Nationals this month will send a progressive policy message to major parties.
Greens candidate for Mallee Sam Mccoll said he hoped a 3.6 percent swing against Nationals Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster in the 2019 federal election, was the start of more voters embracing progressive politics.
He said while it would be difficult for his campaign to win in Mallee, it was important for people to dive into each candidate’s policy because a ‘progressive choice’ was available to them this election.
“Even another small-percentage swing against the Nationals would send a message to major parties to move their policies in a more progressive direction,” he said.
“With more people resonating with progressive policies such as those the Greens continue to put on the table, hopefully more people would vote
Green in Mallee over the next few elections.
“Slowly we will see a shift away from where we are now.”
Mr Mccoll said the Greens did not construct seat-specific policy platforms, but his party’s policies were for the ‘many’, not the ‘few’.
“The Greens want to be in the balance of power, to influence government decisions and policy. The Greens aren’t about policy specifically for electorates – our policies are about making sure everyone can live better,” he said.
Mr Mccoll grew up in Ararat but now lives and works in Ballarat for a not-for-profit arts organisation.
He said the Greens hoped to ban construction of new gas and coal infrastructure, a policy that set it apart from other progressive voting options.
“It is simple – if you don’t have a plan to phase out coal and gas power, you don’t have a plan to handle the climate crisis. That is what sets us apart for Mallee voters,” he said.
Mr Mccoll said Greens policies including Medicare, welfare, education and Murray-darling River reform were costed by the independent Parliamentary Budget and further costing information was available on the Greens’ website.
“We have had a Coalition government for the past decade and its climate-change inaction has meant we are now living in a climate crisis,” he said.
“We have plans on how we will pay for our policies. We want to drive our infrastructure and economy into the future – they want to drive it into the ground.”
Mr Mccoll said as a renter with long experiences as a casual worker, he knew what it was like to be unable to afford enough food for a week.
“This is my first time running as a political candidate,” he said.
“I have volunteered for the Greens since I was 18 and I decided to put my hand up to run this year.
“Mallee voters have a choice, and I hope people spend a couple of minutes of their time and review every candidate’s policy to make the right choice,” he said.