Fight on for Kennedy
LABOR has backed a family man from Mount Isa to take on the role of political giant-killer and finally wrest the seat of Kennedy from Bob Katter’s grip.
Jason Brandon is a husband, a father of one with another on the way, a health and safety worker in the mines and a self-professed fighter who is ready to get his hands dirty.
The first-time candidate was in Cairns to announce his candidacy on Friday alongside Senator Nita Green and Labor candidate for Leichhardt Elida Faith.
The church and Mount Isa Agricultural Show Society volunteer said he respected Mr Katter’s longevity but change was overdue.
“One thing I’ve got is energy,” he said. “I’m passionate.
“I haven’t been doing the job for 30-odd years. It’s new for me and I want to fight.”
Mr Brandon’s wife is due to have their second child within a month.
The smart money is on the federal election to be called after Australia Day for February or March – but any number of factors will play into Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s eventual date decision.
Either way, Mr Brandon was ready to juggle nappies and late nights with mad dashes across the 567,000sq km electorate to get Labor across the line.
In fact, he said his family life had given him keen insight into some of the biggest issues facing constituents.
“Unfortunately I’ve had to take my
daughter to the hospital three times in the last couple of months because I haven’t been able to get her in to see a GP,” he said.
“This is a massive issue we’ve got in the seat of Kennedy where we’re actually the last in Queensland for the number of GPS for the region.”
The lived experience did not stop there. “My daughter goes to childcare five days a week and it is very expens
ive,” he said. “If voted in, an Albanese government will make it more accessible and cheaper for people like me to actually have … them go to daycare and not sacrifice too much.”
Mr Brandon said his campaign would focus on Labor’s policies and what he could bring to federal parliament, rather than Katter’s Australian Party’s platforms.
“I’m not going to go too much into
his policies because they are pretty wild. What I need to do is talk about what’s actually relevant to people I talk to around the electorate,” he said.
“People don’t seem to care too much about kids, 14-year-olds, carrying guns. What they do care about is actually the cost of healthcare, the cost of housing and just the cost of living. It’s about being able to get a doctor when you need it.”