Receiving no response after contacting the organisers, I decided I would crash their little party and express my extreme disappointment about what I can only describe as a perversion of democracy and an insult to that great Australian saying of “fair go mate”.

I spoke to Cathy McGowan, at the entrance, who seemed sympathetic but when asked to say something about this great unfairness, during her appearance on stage, I was rejected. I couldn’t believe my ears – this was a question of right over wrong, a question of good democracy. 

I went on stage where Marty Corboy offered his seat to me, a truly decent gesture offered by no one else. I addressed a tentative audience through a succinct but powerful speech - I received a huge ovation and left. This is the third political forum involving candidates I’ve been excluded from. What’s going on with democracy in Indi, are the common man and woman excluded from the big party Canberra club? Let’s all hope right wins over wrong here.

WEDNESDAY'S youth Indi forum arranged by La Trobe University’s social work students was an outstanding success.

Several hundred students and members of the public attended. Participants were Marty Corboy (Nationals), Eric Kerr (Labor), Cathy McGowan (Ind), Sophie Mirabella (Liberal) and Jenny O’Connor (Greens). 

Candidates were engaged by thoughtful and probing questions such as funding for higher education, job opportunities for young people in regional Australia, climate change, the current dairy industry crisis, resettlement of refugees, establishment of a federal ICAC, the importance of farming and food processing jobs in Indi – among others.

The two Coalition candidates appeared to have markedly differing views on a number of issues that was not a good look for their parties which claim to be a united team. Mrs Mirabella was pressed very hard on whether she would support a federal ICAC, while the other four all supported such a move.

Eric Kerr was full of youthful energy and refreshing with his answers. Ms O’Connor and Ms McGowan both presented as having the best grasp of key policy issues affecting regional Australia and Indi in particular. Well done to Erin and her student colleagues for organising this event. Do it again during the campaign and try to get a greater number of people joining in.

CATHOLIC bishops are declaring war on all those who support same sex marriage through a more “significant” statement – this is code for divisiveness.

They will take pleasure if we all hate and vilify each other over this issue. Let us not go down this path. Stand up for your own beliefs that could include women not being denied access to all positions in this organisation, that women have the right to choose terminations, that everyone of any sexual orientation can marry the person they love and the right to die with dignity. The church is hypocritical so let us not reflect the same as a community. Support peace, love and compassion with dignity and maybe the church of today and yesterday will be redundant tomorrow.