Fenner: Your Go To Election Guide

You may have heard that a Federal Election has been announced for the 18th of May. Here is you go-to-electoral-guide for the division of Fenner. Learn about your local candidates, history and the recent seat redistribution so you can make the best decision upon reaching the ballot-box later this month.

In this election, you will have the opportunity to vote for your representatives in the Senate and in the House of Representatives. The division of Fenner is an electorate in the House of Representatives.

The House of Reps, also known as the Lower House, is made up of 151 members, each representing one of the 151 electorates. Whichever party or alliance of parties win the majority  (78 seats) in the House of Reps makes up the federal executive government.

The seat of Fenner, formally known as Fraser, has been held by the ALP since 1974 and is considered a “safe Labor seat.” In 2018, there was a redistribution of electorates in the ACT. There are now three electorates: Fenner, Bean and Canberra.

The division of Fenner encompasses Gungahlin, Hall, the Belconnen suburbs of Charnwood, Dunlop, Evatt, Florey, Flynn, Fraser, Higgins, Holt, Latham, Macgregor, McKeller, Melba, Page, Scullin and Spence, and the Jervis Bay Territory.

As of the 2018 redistributions; the electorate of Fenner is shown below.

Lets take a look at exactly who you have to choose from:

Dr Andrew Leigh, from the Australian Labor Party, has been the member for Fenner since the 2016 election. Prior to this, he was the member for Fraser, where he was the Shadow Assistant Treasurer. Before entering politics Andrew Leigh was a Professor of Economics at the Australian National University. He has promised $1 million for women’s football facilities in Kippax

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The Liberal candidate for Fenner is Leanne Castley, a former country singer and business owner. Having spent the majority of her life working for small, private business, Castley has a strong focus on creating jobs and allowing hard-working Australians to keep more of what they earn. Ms Castley worked as project manager for Citadel Group in Canberra

Andrew Braddock is the Greens candidate for Fenner. Braddock is a self-described “classic Canberran”, a public servant who lives in the suburbs with his young family. He sits on the Gungahlin Community Council and advocates for charities that raise awareness for stillbirths, including Bears of Hope and Heartfelt. Braddock has been vocal in the fight against the Adani coal mine and higher funding for public hospitals and schools over the private sector.

Kagiso Ratlhagane is running with the Australian Progressive Party. If you haven’t heard of these guys before, don’t worry, they’re a minor party established in 2014 and are only contesting seats in the ACT. While we have not heard much from Ratlhagane yet, you can keep an eye on his social media to get to know him.

The Australian Progressive Party plans to focus on corruption and tax evasion, by creating a Commonwealth Independent Commission. They have also promised a transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030.

Glen Hodgson is the representative for United Australia Party, better known as Clive Palmer’s party. You have probably heard the party’s 2019 slogan “Let’s make Australia Great.”

Like Palmer, Glen Hodgson believes in restricting Australia’s borders, supporting the expansion of the mining industry and free trade.

The Fenner candidate has recently deleted his personal Facebook profile, as fellow UAP candidate Tony Hanley has been caught sharing homophobic and racist comments online.