FORMER Cathy McGowan advisor Jacqui Hawkins has tried to distance herself from the federal MP in entering the political fray as an independent candidate for Victoria’s parliament.
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With family looking on in Wodonga’s Junction Place, Ms Hawkins on Tuesday outlined her bid for the Liberal-held seat of Benambra.
She said working for the member for Indi had exposed her to “political infrastructure” and “processes” and while lauding Ms McGowan as “a great advocate” she said “I am Jacqui Hawkins, I am out on my own and doing my own thing”.
Ms Hawkins has adopted a campaign colour (yellow instead of orange) and says she is about listening to voters for ideas, both hallmarks of Ms McGowan, but she rejected the suggestion she would be a “Cathy McGowan clone”.
“Definitely not, I bring different values and different interests to this field and I’m out here to hear about the community’s concerns and interests,” Ms Hawkins said.
Asked how she was different to Ms McGowan she said: “I’m Jacqui Hawkins.”
Earlier she had said: “Independents can do much more in the community, in terms of having a conversation with various people, they’re not bound by party policy and they can be effective.”
Ms Hawkins nominated access to education from early childhood to tertiary level and reform of cross border anomalies as key concerns.
The youngest of three sisters, Ms Hawkins, 26, grew up on a farm at Staghorn Flat and attended Wodonga Senior Secondary College before graduating from La Trobe University with an arts degree.
She is completing postgraduate studies in international relations and is a Border Trust board member.
A Geelong AFL fan and Wodonga Diamonds soccer player, Ms Hawkins is working in administration at La Trobe University.
Ms McGowan applauded Ms Hawkins’ move.
“I welcome any young person nominating as a candidate to represent their community at a local, state or federal government level,” Ms McGowan said.
“I commend Jacqui for her decision and wish her the best.”
The member for Benambra, Bill Tilley, who expects Ms Hawkins will be the first of a number of candidates to challenge him, criticised the worth of independents.
“You’ve got to be at the budget table not the kitchen table if you’re going to give good sound public policy that is going to deliver,” Mr Tilley said.
“Not being part of government in a major party you don’t have to deliver, if you are an independent you are virtue signalling.”
Mr Tilley cited the Liberal Party’s plan to have new trains on the North East line by 2021 as a key reason to vote for him.
The Labor Party expects to reveal its candidate for Benambra by May 31.
Wodonga branch secretary Eric Kerr said a preselection process had begun.
The former Wodonga councillor and last Indi Labor candidate said he was not a contender.
