Independents day: Simon Holmes à Court in Newcastle to shake up local politics
Simon Holmes à Court. Picture by Gary Ramage. Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes à Court will meet with supporters in Newcastle on Thursday to discuss the rise of the community-independents movement and recent. . .
Simon Holmes à Court. Picture by Gary Ramage. Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes à Court will meet with supporters in Newcastle on Thursday to discuss the rise of the community-independents movement and recent policy wins on climate, corruption, and gender-equity. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue readingSave 30%All articles from our website& appThe digital version ofToday'sPaperAll otherin your areaThe meeting follows a surge of support for Newcastle independent candidates Ross Kerridge and Gavin Morris at the 2024 and 2026 Lord mayoral elections. Climate 200 helps independent candidates with support in their local community raise money to contest elections. The movement, which has supported 16 community independents including David Pocock, Sophie Scamps and Helen Haines, has about 500 supporters across the Hunter. Climate 200 supported 35 candidates at the May federal election and is in the process of planning for the 2028 poll. Climate 200 co-convenor Kate Hook. Picture Jonathan Carroll. Mr Holmes à Court said he was not coming to Newcastle to recruit candidates for next year's state election. "We are here simply to say thank you to our local supporters, hear from them about their concerns and discuss our broader progress nationally," he said. "I love Newcastle. It's a genuine Aussie icon. It's also a region in transition, from the largest coal port in the world to a clean energy, tech and cultural hub. It's such an exciting time to be visiting. "Climate 200 co-convenor Kate Hook, who will also be at the meeting, said its purpose was to explain how the movement had worked in communities that it had previously supported. "The community-independents movement is exploding. Community groups are popping up all over the country," she said. It's a completely different political model that's resonating because it puts political power in the hands of communities, not political parties. Whereas a party MP will always put their party first, a community independent's only loyalty is to the community they represent. "It's giving those who are understandably fed up with the major parties a real and positive alternative to One Nation. "Mr Holmes à Court said the Climate 200 movement was growing throughout Australia. "We have groups forming all over Australia all the time, looking to change politics in this country. "People want to understand more about the community-driven model that's delivered independent MPs like David Pocock, Sophie Scamps and Helen Haines, who can push on issues that change lives but the major parties won't touch. '"We now have over 35,000 supporters across Australia. Labor's Tim Crakanthorp secured 49. 4 per cent of first preferences and a +3. 6 per cent swing in the March 2023 election. The Liberal Party's Thomas Triebsees won 22. 4 per cent or first preferences and the Greens' John MacKenzie secured 18. 7 per cent. As it happensBreaking news alertBe the first to know when news breaks.