Regardless of the result, there are going to be many fresh faces in the Senate after the 2019 election, and some old ones we may wish we did not have to endure any longer. The following is a brief guide to who is going, who is staying, who is running, and a few who might be coming to the 2019 Senate..
In NSW, three of the six – John Williams (Nats), Doug Cameron (ALP), and David Leyonjhelm (LDP) – will not be recontesting. Jim Molan (LP) has been shunted to an unwinnable 4th spot on the Coalition Senate ticket (though section 44 got him there from an unwinnable spot last time) and has had a dummy spit saying he cannot bring himself to defend his party after preselectors dropped him.
Ex-PHON Senator Brian Burston will run for whatever Palmer’s party is called now, and Mehreen Faruqi, who beat Lee Rhiannon in a pre-selection contest for the first spot on the NSW Greens Senate ballot at the upcoming election and then filled the casual vacancy left when Rhiannon quit, will also run. She is a civil engineer, originally from Pakistan, who has served in the NSW Legislative Council for 5 years. She was the first Muslim woman to be a member of an Australian parliament.
Father Rod Bowers will run as an Independent in NSW. Everything I have seen of him points to a man committed to social justice and inclusion, a man dedicated to being a voice for the marginalised and vulnerable. Tony Windsor has hinted in the past that he may have a tilt at the Senate though I have heard nothing more on that of late.
Arthur Sinodinis’ term does not expire until 2022 but he remains on sick leave (since October 2017). Also safe until 2022 are Marise Payne and Connie Fierravanti-Wells for the Liberals, and Kristina Kenneally, Jenny McAllister and Deb O’Neill for Labor.
In Queensland, Ian Macdonald (LP) and Barry O’Sullivan (Nats) have been dumped and Claire Moore (ALP) has announced her retirement. Larissa Waters will run for the Greens and Fraser Anning will recontest, for what party, if any, is anybody’s guess.
I admit to never having heard of Chris Ketter (ALP) who will presumably recontest. A cursory look reveals he is linked with the conservative Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association and he voted against marriage equality.
Unfortunately, we are stuck with Matt Canavan (Nats), James McGrath (LP) and Pauline Hanson (PHON) for another three years, along with Amanda Stoker (LP), Murray Watt (ALP) and Anthony Chisholm (ALP).
In South Australia, Lucy Gichuhi (LP) has been relegated to an unwinnable 4th position on the ticket. Liberal Senators Ann Ruston and David Fawcett will be 1 & 2.
Former state secretary of the TWU, Senator Alex Gallacher will recontest for the ALP, Sarah Hanson-Young for the Greens, as will ex-Xenophon now Independent Senator Tim Storer.
Those continuing for another three years are Simon Birmingham (LP), Rex Patrick and Stirling Griff from Centre Alliance, Labor’s Penny Wong and Don Farrell and… sigh… Cory Bernardi.
In Tasmania, the ALP have done it again, relegating Lisa Singh to the unwinnable 4th spot despite her having been elected on below the line first preference votes last time they did that and despite the rank and file putting her at number 2. Australian Manufacturing and Workers Union state secretary John Short will be at number 3 behind Senators Carol Brown and Catryna Bilyk.
Nick McKim will recontest for the Greens. Richard Colbeck replaced Liberal Senator Steven Parry when he fell foul of the citizenship laws and will head the Liberal ticket. Former Tasmanian Young Liberals president Claire Chandler got second spot on the Senate ticket which gives her a chance to be the first female Liberal to be elected for Tasmania in 33 years. Senator Steven Martin, who filled Jacqui Lambie’s vacancy, will contest the election as a National. Presumably Jacqui will throw her own hat in the ring again.
David Bushby’s resignation to take up the role of Consul-General in Chicago – yes there is such a thing apparently – will mean a senate spot will be gifted to a Liberal until 2022. Others who will remain are Peter Whish-Wilson (AG), Labor’s Ann Urquhart and Helen Polley (who was the other Labor Senator to vote against marriage equality), and from the Libs, Jonathon Duniam and… another sigh… Eric Abetz.
In Victoria, it took Scott Morrison’s intervention to secure James Patterson and Jane Hume’s positions at the top of the Liberal ticket after Kroger’s Christians tried to stage a coup. Derryn Hinch will run again for his justice party as will Janet Rice for the Greens. Labor’s Gavin Marshall, who was an official with the Electrical Trades Union before entering politics, will recontest but Jacinta Collins will not.
Continuing Senators include Richard di Natale (AG), Scott Ryan and Mitch Fifield for the Libs, Bridget McKenzie for the Nats (unless she gets a better offer), and Kim Carr and Shorten’s pick, Kimberly Kitching, for Labor.
In WA, Labor’s Pat Dodson and Louise Pratt will face the polls as will Liberals Linda Reynolds and Slade Brockman. The Greens Jordan Steele-John, who replaced Scott Ludlum, will presumably recontest and who knows (or cares) about accidental PHON Senator (and Rod Culleton b-in-law), Peter Giorgiou.
Remaining senators for WA include Labor’s Sue Lines and Glenn Sterle, the Greens Rachel Siewart, and the Liberals Dean Smith and his traitorous colleagues Matthias Cormann and Michaelia Cash.
Territory Senators only get three year terms. For the NT, Nigel Scullion (CLP) is retiring and Labor’s Malarndirri McCarthy is recontesting. In the ACT, Labor’s David Smith and Liberal Zed Seselja will face off.
Control your own vote by voting below the line. Choose wisely. The Senate are the gatekeepers.
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