The election campaign period officially kicked off on Friday, with the government entering caretaker mode and candidate nominations being opened by Elections ACT.

We are finalising our list of support candidates over the next few days, ready for submission on Wednesday! Terrified by what happened with the Liberal Party in NSW, we're crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' three times over.

We'll have more to say about some of our new support candidates soon.

In the meantime, I thought I'd send through an update on some recent media around our movement as well as upcoming events you might be interested in.

Recent Media

Independents For Canberra call for review of justice system - Canberra Daily

"Independents for Canberra have added their voices to the ever-growing chorus calling for a review of the ACT’s criminal justice system."  Read here.

Independents For Canberra want inquiry into ACT's criminal justice system - Canberra Times

"Independents for Canberra say an independent inquiry of the ACT's criminal justice system is needed and have promised to push for this if members of the group are elected."  Read here.

Independents for Canberra target Labor in call for ban on gambling industry political donations in ACT - Riotact

"Independents for Canberra (IFC) have called for a ban on political donations from the gambling industry, its first policy announcement after its official campaign launch on Friday (6 September)."  Read here.

Independents call for ban on political donations linked to gambling industry - Canberra Times

"Independent groups vying for seats in the upcoming ACT election have joined calls for the territory to ban political donations from the gambling industry."  Read here.

Letter to the Editor: Independents are Independent - Canberra Times

"It has been suggested that independents should disclose "which side they would support" before the election. However, one of the core strengths of being an independent is that we don't take sides in partisan politics."  Read here (scroll down).

ACT election campaign mode is on, and the formula for winning power is unlike anywhere else in the country - ABC News

"The major party duopoly was also smashed at a federal level in the ACT in 2022, when independent David Pocock snatched a Senate seat off the Liberals' Zed Seselja. At a territory level, there is no shortage of candidates hoping to replicate his success."  Read here.

You can find links to all our recent print media appearances here: www.independentsforcanberra.com/media

Upcoming Events

We've been fortunate to have been invited to participate in a range of different election forums in recent weeks. Here's what's coming up:

• 18 September: Dr Vanessa Picker will represent us at the Conservation Council's forum 'A Safe and Thriving Environment for All'. Details & RSVPs here.
• 18 September: I will represent us at a leader's forum on Canberra's future, battling it out with the three major party leaders. This one is being hosted and live streamed by The Riotact on their Facebook page here. Details here.
• 18 September: Sara Poguet and Anne-Louise Dawes are hosting our creative arts forum at The Mill Theatre. Details & RSVPs here.
• 21 September: I will represent us at the Sustaining Our Future Festival, which involves a candidate forum on active travel. Details here.
• 25 September: Dr Vanessa Picker will represent as at The Riotact's forum on the cost of living, hosted here with details here.
• 25 September: I will represent us at ANU's ACT Election Leaders' Forum. Details & RSVPs here.
• 26 September: I will represent us at the Conservation Council and Canberra Environment Centre's Sustainable Canberra Community Candidate Forum. Details & RSVPs here.
• 28 September: Sara Poguet and I are hosting our environment forum at the Watson Micro-Forest. Details & RSVPs here.
• 2 October: I will represent us at Greater Canberra's housing forum. Details & RSVPs here.

The Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy (CAPad) is also hosting a series of 'Know Your Candidate Forums', with one event for each electorate from September 22-30. We'll have candidates at every forum, which are intended as an opportunity for voters to better understand the background, credentials and motives of candidates. Check out the details for your electorate and RSVP here.

Geez, there really is a lot on! With just five weeks to go, we're absolutely in the home stretch now.

If you haven't signed up to volunteer yet and are interested in jumping aboard to help maximise our presence over this crucial period, please do register at: www.independentsforcanberra.com/join

Thank you for supporting the independent movement.

It's time for change!

Tom & the team