Thread by @Anthony_htimS

Ok Tweeps. There's a candidates forum tonight at the Samford Farmers hall

It starts at 7pm
I'm already here because I wanted to park my car right out the front. There's been plenty of chatter on the suburban Facebook groups about it

Stay tuned

#DicksonVotes🥔
#Auspol
#Ausvotes

The room is starting to fill.

Apparently the chap who moderates the forum does a very good job. Very fair, very unbiased.

#DicksonVotes #Auspol #AusVotes19
#ElectAli

Standing room only at the #DicksonVotes🥔 candidates forum at the Samford farmers hall tonight.
Some nice greens are sitting beside me. And a nice bloke also called Ali.
#auspol
#ThisIsBiggerThanRootyHill!
#ElectAli

#DicksonVotes🥔
They've taken the stage.
There are literally people seated outside on the verandah.

The MC is reminding us all it's a local event, for locals. Locally made. Locally owned.

Steve Austin can't make it, his son has had an accident.

#DicksonVotes
Dutton looks petrified.

Thor's intro first.
Thor looks calm. It's his 5th time running. His second attempt at Dickson.
Thor is telling his story about why he is standing for Parliament.
He wants direct democracy.

Finishes strongly.
#DicksonVotes🥔

Maureen Brohman next.
Animal Justice Party
She's an educator.
AJP in 2015 they got a member in NSW state parliament.
1st time running.
She is a good speaker.
Telling her story. Loved animals.
AJP is not a one issue party. Raises land clearing and koalas.
#DicksonVotes

Benedict Coyne. #DicksonVotes🥔
Strong start.
Standing for Parliament because he's had enough. Need a fed ICAC. Need corruption stopped.
His parents were liberals.
Greens have a strong legacy of getting what people want.
Wants politics cleaned up.
Stands up for ppl being bullied.

Now Mr Dutton.
Formal. Pays homage to the Samford progress association.
Believes he has a strong affinity for the local community.
Saying he's won funding for the community hub. $100M for the uni at Petrie.
#DicksonVotes
No warmth. From him or audience.
Gone negative. 'Labor tax'

Ali France.
Acknowledges traditional owners.
Telling a story of competing at the Samford show, aged 16.
Talking about doorknocking, locals and volunteers.
NBN. Climate change. Health funding. Talking the cancer care package.
She's actually better than Benedict.
#DicksonVotes

She's talking about the stuff she wants for her kids.
A good environment.
Healthcare
Education
Lots.

Really good delivery.

So. Questions. #DicksonVotes
A super detailed NBN question.
Asking for fibre to the curb.

Dutton.
Can't make that promise. Talking about what labor policy is. Saying labor can't deliver. Talking 5G rollout.

Thor.
"The NBN. What a stuff up". He's talking about very early NBN.

#DicksonVotes
Thor still. Said in was not built well because it would interfere with Murdoch business model.
Crowd is not tolerant of Thor.

Ali.
"I think we can all agree the NBN rollout has been a disaster". Shoulda stuck with fibre to the premises. We're worse that Latvia.

Ali is across the issue. Knows about towers going to be built. Dismissed Duttons dire prediction.
Gonna boost funding for telecommunications ombudsman.
"We will deliver a better NBN and that's what I'll commit to tonight"

Maureen quietly declined.

Benedict Coyne.
Says greens are also committed to improving the stuff and addressing the systemic failure.
Commits to good fast fit for purpose internet.

#DicksonVotes
Q about ever been in another party or been a candidate before.
Thor was once in Palmer United Party. Not really happy about that.

Now a question about preferences.
Thor wants his people to vote for what they choose.
Maureen says whatever benefits animals most.

#DicksonVotes
Benedict says likely labor will be near the top. Says difficult to know who'll come last. ONP/

Q for Peter Dutton.
This lady's son was deported. On character grounds. He was deported. The charges were dropped. Why can't he come back.

Dutton talks about rapists.
The woman counters "the charge was dropped. No conviction."

Dutton says good character is a condition of visa. Crowd not happy.

Benedict Coyne Q will you vote for a emissions trading scheme?

#DicksonVotes
Benedict says they want 100% renewables by 2030. Says they're happy to work with the Greens.

Q
Wants to know if Benedict has read the Greens Manifesto. Now asking about Getup ruining her dinner.

Benedict - says progressive policies are taking on the bullies.

#DicksonVotes
Q for Peter and Ali.
About protecting koala habitat.

Dutton - talking about Warner. Says they've worked with local groups. Says it's a state and local gov issue

Ali.
I think everyone is concerned about koala population. Says fed environment laws are weak.

Ali - says we'll get an independent environmental protection agency.
"What we want to do is strengthen our environmental laws and get a independent environmental protection body"

#DicksonVotes

#DicksonVotes🥔
Live export question. Will you ban live export?

Dutton. Not proposing to close it.
Thor. NZ has banned live export. We can do the same. Great start. Now he's talking about representative democracy.

Ali. Yup labor will end it. (All animals?) Gonna check.

Maureen says yup. Well stop it all.

Benedict says labor won't. Then says they will I think.

#DicksonVotes
Young man asks Dutton why he reinforces policies that make it hard for people to buy a house.

Dutton said his father worked hard. He says he came from a poor background.

#DicksonVotes
Dutton saying aspirational story.
Now he's talking Labor. Saying

Someone asking about Dutton voting against the banking royal commission.
Dutton says they were worried about credit squeeze. Then they facilitated it.
Unrest in the audience.

Audience is unhappy

#DicksonVotes
Over 55 person.
What would you do about 'retirees tax'
It's franking credits.

Ali
It's costing us more than we spend on public schools.

She's all over this.

'nowhere else in the world has this system. They can't afford it. Neither can we'

#DicksonVotes
Q for Peter Dutton.
If you are such good at economics, how have you doubled the debt?

Dutton attacks the questioner! Says the questioner resigned from the Labor party.
Says they inherited a big debt. Says they haven't made cuts..

#DicksonVotes
Q to Ali about climate and Electric cars.
Ali 'under this Government emissions have gone up. Now more than ever is the time to do something about climate change.'

This Government has had 13 different climate policies. Business are disgusted

Ali reverses the question
'what would you have us do on climate change? Nothing?'

Massive applause. Ali's kicked Ass.

#DicksonVotes

#DicksonVotes
Q about political discourse and how it enflamed extremism.

Benedict - we need to work together to promote peace. There's been poison in the discourse.
Brings up 'its ok to be white'
Benedict is very concerned.
Benedict is doing a wide ranging great condemnation.

Ali - I think everybody has a role to play. She tells her kids to be kind to others. She thinks politicians have an especially important role to play.

Thor - agrees. Dislikes the lack of respect. He'll always discuss stuff civily. Dislikes the agression

#DicksonVotes

Dutton - talks about the q and a the other night. He isn't answering the question. Talking about pride in getting children out if detention.
Isn't answering the question.

#DicksonVotes
Q about donations
Dutton - says the alternative is public funding. Now talking about unions

Dutton still talking about people using money to influence outcomes.

Ali - in Qld we've banned developer donations. My campaign is mostly $40 donations. You can see our donations on the Qld Electoral commission website.

Benedict - says it's a problem. #DicksonVotes

Benedict - we want to clean it up. Wants a federal ICAC with public hearings.
Wants donations reported real time.
Talks about Paladin, helloworld, Paladin.

Climate change question
What you personally feel your position should be?

#DicksonVotes
Ali - we've announced the biggest and most comprehensive climate change policy if any party.
Any approval for development must take account of the environment. Mentions national environment law boost and national environmental protection agency.

#DicksonVotes
Ali - you can choose the labor party with a whole lot of detailed and effective plans, or the coalition, who'll do nothing again.

Maureen - plenty of policies including policies to reduce land leading and to reduce animal agriculture. And address Adani

Dutton
#DicksonVotes
Says they have had action on climate change. Talking about the economy. Talking about if people want to invest in coal they could if they wish.

Oh. Dear. Duttons really failing.

Benedict - says they've taken better climate change policies than labor

Benedict is saying labor policy is too slow and will cost jobs. Encourages us to be ambitious.

Dutton looks really unhappy.
Ali looks like electric.

Wrap up speeches.
Thor - calling for people to assist in direct democracy.
If elected Thor will do what we ask.

Maureen - we need to vote for a party that will save our planet and our animals.

Benedict - I see the greens as the future and what Australia needs.

#DicksonVotes
Benedict - we can change the banking market, by making a people's bank. We want free education and free childcare.

#DicksonVotes
Benedict is charming

Dutton. Thanks us. Looking forward to seeing us at Anzac services tomorrow. I'm asking for your support. I want to continue that work.

Someone has just walked out!
Oh. Now protest from the audience.

Ali ♥️
Thanks everyone.

Ali - I want to end on a positive note
We'll deliver funds for schools in Dickson.
We've committed moment for the community hub.
I want to say I think the NBN needs another look
I want to talk about our cancer care package. This will take away the out if pocket expenses us.

We're allowing a final question to Dutton.
About processing times.

Dutton is saying we push the threat beyond our boarders. They need a visa to get on a plane.

He's not answering the question.
He's denying people are coming by plane.
He says it depends on the country.

Well.

I think it's done.

Thor and Maureen did minor roles. Benedict spoke well, had high energy.
Dutton fumbled and droned in circles more than once. Didn't really show much emotion.
Ali was passionate, spoke well, answered questions. (I'm really pleased. Ali kicked ass).

So I spoke to lots of people who were there tonight. Got their thoughts.

More than one person said they saw Dutton turn red a few times.
And that he sometimes went in circles and lost the point of the question.

#DicksonVotes