Pirate by-election 2017

= Nominations =

The Party had two unfilled positions following our recent National Congress.

Nominations were called for the following positions:


 * Deputy President
 * Dispute Resolution Committee (Casual Vacancy)

Deputy President
{{Candidate| |

John Edward Philip Jeffery
I am a Mechanical Engineer with a very broad interest in geopolitics, civil rights, economics, infrastructure, energy and politics. I am 60 years old.| I think the western world is heading towards a fascist style dictatorship. Full spectrum spying on the people, a militarised police force, and the national Border Force are big worries. I want to contribute to the end of this type of government control in Australia. The Government intimidation of the populace in order to pass draconian legislation has to end.

I support the closure of Pine Gap and an end to foreign interference and control of Australia. I support an independent Australian foreign policy. I think we should not be involved in foreign wars which do not concern us. Our security should involve our closest neighbours. Of course, I support an Australian Republic.

I would be an active Deputy.| I have done nothing for the party so far. However I intend to contribute in getting people elected and policy formulation. I purr too.| I agree wholeheartedly with the vision and platform of the Pirate Party. It is the first party I have ever seen which articulates the rights of the individual. I have been a member of The Cyclists Party. I have never had any political affiliations as I find no difference between the two major parties on the big issues and tend to disagree with both parties. I have usually voted Greens or independent in most elections.| }}
 * None

{{Candidate| |

Reverend Peter Lawler
I feel that as a Pastafarian Minister, I'm well qualified to be the Deputy President. I have quite a number of good recipes for ginger beer (both alcoholic and non-acoholic) with rum, as well as brewing my own ginger beer. Along with being able to make a very passable spaghetti dish, vegetarian or meat, I've been involved in what may be described as progressive politics all my adult life, from volunteering to help bring down state governments to being involved in the Free Software movement in Tasmania. I'm very passionate about Tasmanian pirate history, from both settler and indigenous perspectives, and will happily talk the peg leg off you if you get me started about any of the Greatest Pirates Ever.| After seeing Tom become Secretary this year, I became reinvigorated about the party. This is probably the most difficult year it has faced, and as such a good supply of ginger beer, pasta, rum and all that entails is required to get the National Council through. I strongly feel that, in a case where the National Council positions haven't been filled after a National Congress, anyone nominating for the remaining positions should nominate for ALL remaining positions. One either intends to help out at the pinch or just kidding oneself.| As a Pastafarian Minister, I wholly identify as a Pirate. I am eager to advance the Pirate movement by innovating our outreach through fundraising and awareness campaigns whilst capitalising on existing strengths. I've run a number of local branch meetings in Tasmania during mid-winter where there has only been one or two attendees, and have somewhat of a reputation amongst some local establishments as being 'Pete The Pirate' for my frequent wearing of Pirate Party shirts. During major festivals in Hobart I've vigorously advanced our message through both traditional and non-traditional channels, debating and evangelising on why the Pirate Party's point of view should at least be considered. I've recently observed friends in The Arts Party lose faith in the system, and am aiming to convince them that Pirates do not wish to make them poor but empower them within a new framework of democracy and self-worth. | To be honest there's a few parts of the Australian Pirate's platform I'm not overly keen on but hey the Crew have decided that's what we're going with so I'm fine with that. Last century, I was involved with the Tasmanian Greens, being a campaign volunteer when we got 5 members elected for the first time to a State parliament.| }}
 * Just because this is serious business, doesn't mean we can't have a bit of fun from time to time.
 * Did I mention I make booze?

Dispute Resolution Committee Member (1 position)
{{Candidate| |

Reverend Peter Lawler
I feel that as a Pastafarian Minister, I'm well qualified to be the Deputy President. I have quite a number of good recipes for ginger beer (both alcoholic and non-acoholic) with rum, as well as brewing my own ginger beer. Along with being able to make a very passable spaghetti dish, vegetarian or meat, I've been involved in what may be described as progressive politics all my adult life, from volunteering to help bring down state governments to being involved in the Free Software movement in Tasmania. I'm very passionate about Tasmanian pirate history, from both settler and indigenous perspectives, and will happily talk the peg leg off you if you get me started about any of the Greatest Pirates Ever.| After seeing Tom become Secretary this year, I became reinvigorated about the party. This is probably the most difficult year it has faced, and as such a good supply of ginger beer, pasta, rum and all that entails is required to get the National Council through. I strongly feel that, in a case where the National Council positions haven't been filled after a National Congress, anyone nominating for the remaining positions should nominate for ALL remaining positions. One either intends to help out at the pinch or just kidding oneself.| As a Pastafarian Minister, I wholly identify as a Pirate. I am eager to advance the Pirate movement by innovating our outreach through fundraising and awareness campaigns whilst capitalising on existing strengths. I've run a number of local branch meetings in Tasmania during mid-winter where there has only been one or two attendees, and have somewhat of a reputation amongst some local establishments as being 'Pete The Pirate' for my frequent wearing of Pirate Party shirts. During major festivals in Hobart I've vigorously advanced our message through both traditional and non-traditional channels, debating and evangelising on why the Pirate Party's point of view should at least be considered. I've recently observed friends in The Arts Party lose faith in the system, and am aiming to convince them that Pirates do not wish to make them poor but empower them within a new framework of democracy and self-worth. | To be honest there's a few parts of the Australian Pirate's platform I'm not overly keen on but hey the Crew have decided that's what we're going with so I'm fine with that. Last century, I was involved with the Tasmanian Greens, being a campaign volunteer when we got 5 members elected for the first time to a State parliament.| }}
 * Just because this is serious business, doesn't mean we can't have a bit of fun from time to time.
 * Did I mention I make booze?

{{Candidate| |

Liam Pomfret
I have been unable to contribute in a meaningful way to the party for a number of years, due in part to concern over possible conflicts of interest with my position on the APF Board, as well as a need to focus on my PhD studies. This has kept me on the relative outside of the party for the past few years, and well apart from any internal disputes and conflicts which may have occurred during that time. I feel this puts me in a good position to act as a member of the Dispute Resolution Committee, with the need to maintain strict impartiality on any issues that may arise.| I have wanted to find a way to contribute again to the party for quite some time, and I believe the Dispute Resolution Committee position would be an ideal way for me to contribute without interfering with my academic and other responsibilities.| I have been with the Pirate Party since early in it's life, and stood as a PPAU candidate for the QLD Senate in the 2013 federal election. A number of years ago (August 2012 - July 2013), I acted as the state coordinator for QLD, organizing regular meetings in Brisbane for a relatively modest sized crew. Outside of the party, I am currently completing a PhD in online consumer privacy, with an aim towards both finding ways to persuade consumers to act more responsibly with regards to sharing their information online; and persuading companies to shift to business models which respect and promote consumer privacy. I am also highly active on Twitter, where I've fostered strong relationships with people in the broader digital rights advocacy and activism community.| I thoroughly believe in the Pirate Party's platform and ideals, though I may sometimes quibble over specific implementations of those. I have never been a member of any other political party. In the activist/advocacy space, I am a current board member of the Australian Privacy Foundation (and chair of its technical committee), a founding member of Digital Rights Watch, and a life member of Electronic Frontiers Australia.|
 * Twitter: @LiamPomfret
 * Linkedin
 * I still think "Vote for the boat people, vote Pirate" would have been an amazing electoral slogan (and still could be, what with the continuing situation on Manus)

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