2016 Election/Preselection Nominations

Voting Ballots will be sent to members very soon. You will have a week to cast your ballot (see ballot for closing time).

You will only be able to vote for candidates in your home state.

If you have questions of nominees, please use this discussion thread here: https://discuss.pirateparty.org.au/t/questions-for-potential-candidates-2016-edition/744

A log from the preselection meeting can be found here: https://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/2016_Election/Preselection_Nominations/Meeting_log

Adding a Nomination
Nominations are now closed. If you need assistance adding with any text or links for your nomination, or adding an image, shoot an email to secretary@pirateparty.org.au and we'll help you out.

=Nominations=

Australian Capital Territory
none

House of Reps (Bennelong)
{{Candidate| |

John August
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 * I am a writer, Science Communicator and IT contractor. I have taken an interest in many years in intellectual property, having completed one year of employment towards becoming a Patent Attorney. I have written about these issues on my blog ( johnaugust.com.au ). I've also written to my local member, and appear on community radio and Speakers Corner Sydney. I have written many letters to the editor of local papers and have some media experience from the groups I am involved in. I am a competent public speaker, as evidenced by my involvement with community radio and speakers corner.
 * I have previously been a candidate in Bennelong on behalf of the Secular Party, and would like to do the same again this election, on behalf of the Pirate Party, following through from past experiences and lessons. A lower house election is an opportunity to give the ideas of the Pirate Party traction in local media, which while - well - localised, does not hurt. I have experience in campaigns from the Secular Party that might well assist the Pirate Party with its election campaign.
 * I have been a member of the Pirate Party for a several years and identified with the ideas for still more years, though at the time I had ended up in the Secular Party. I have hosted the then Present of the Pirate Party at a public talk, before I was a member. I have given voice to Pirate Party ideas on community radio and interviewed Mark Gibbons. I talk and write about these ideas, and will continue to do so.
 * I believe in the Pirate Party and its ideas. I have long felt strongly about injustices in claims of ownership, particularly those around intellectual property. I also find the range of rationally based policies in the Pirate Party worthwhile and a great addition to public policy debate. I have previously been a member of the Secular Party and have stood for three elections - two in official capacity, one as an aligned independent before the Secular Party formed. I also stood for the Abolish State Governments Party, probably more than ten years ago and I'm vague on the details. I'm a member of many different causes and groups, including NSW Humanists, NSW Rationalists, Sydney Outdoor Lighting Improvement Society, Non-Smoking movement of Australia, Sydney Engineering Heritage Committee, Australian Canal Society and the Sydney Realists.
 * I am nominating for the lower house, in the seat of Bennolong, not the Senate. I am willing to donate $1000 towards my candidates fees.

Senate
{{Candidate| |

Darren McIntosh

 * I joined the defence forces straight after school. After serving my tenure In the defence forces, and being a technologist at heart, I have continually taught myself new skills to stay current and evolve professionally. I've also served as office bearer for my local scout troop and ski club. I am currently learning the role of pensions officer for my local Legacy club. Experience and commitment is what I can offer.

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 * I'm at a stage in my life where I'd like to make a difference. Primarily I'd like to show my children that if you think change is warranted, then the first step is to find others who think like you and collaborate on making change happen.
 * I have been a silent partner watching the success of the pirate parties internationally, now looking to step up and further the pirate platform in Australian politics.
 * I identified with the pirate party after losing confidence in both the major parties at the last federal election. I have never felt compelled to join any other party. Technology is outpacing cultural norms, laws and traditional political boundaries, and I believe the pirate party can bring strategic technologist views to the Australian political landscape.

{{Candidate| |

Sam Kearns
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 * Electronic Musician, Father and Software Engineer. For the last decade I have taken a keen interest in politics especially relating to copyright, privacy and the erosion of civil rights and liberties by corporate influence.
 * The issues central to the Pirate Party are important to the success of this nation and deserve quality representation.
 * Member of Pirate Party Australia since January 2012 and served on the national council as Deputy Treasurer from 2012 to 2013. Researched, wrote, hosted and produced all episodes of Pirate Party Australia Webcast. The webcast will be produced again on a regular basis as part of my campaign.
 * I identify strongly with core Pirate Party principles, I'm a tech geek, pirates are my people. Never held a membership or otherwise been actively involved with any other political party or movement. Voted Green or independent before joining PPAU.

{{Candidate| |

Joshua Pearson
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 * I started becoming more active in politics when I moved back to Australia after spending 9 years in the UK. I've spent time volunteering for charities and have worked in the IT industry for 10 years, with that background I think I would a good representative of the Pirate Party and the nation if I was selected.
 * I'm seeking this position because I think I can contribute. It seems like there is a growing movement away from the traditional powers that make up the Australian political landscape and I think the Pirate Party is in an excellent position to help direct that movement.
 * I've been an associate member of the party since 2015 and have recently become a full member to nominate for pre-selection. I also gave money to the pozible.com campaign for the party membership database.
 * Yes, I agree strongly with the Pirate Party principles. I've never joined a political party before this one though I've investigated others in the past when I was looking to get more involved. When looking at the Pirate Party platform I felt it was the one that best represented my view of the direction Australia should take.
 * Linkedin

Northern Territory
none

Queensland
{{Candidate| |

Eric Briese
There is no getting around that this is a demanding position of great responsibility requiring extreme levels of tact, insight, abd professionalism. I do believe though that I have a number of key skills and attributes that makes me well suited to this position.
 * At the end of the day the best candidates will be those that can represent the party and its views while also respecting the ideas and views of others. They will be the candidates that can push the agenda but who know when and how to compromise if required. They will be fact oriented and objective while still able to empathise without it clouding their judgement. They will be an excellent speaker but also recopgnise when to listen.

My double degree in Law and Information Technology at the Queensland University of Technology has taught me invaluable skills in all areas. Law has covered everything ranging from negotiation, dispute resolution, non adversarial advocacy, analytical thinking, and research. IT has given me a strong background in the technical and a great insight into why a lot of tech related issues in the world today are a lot more complicated than they may seem.

My participation in the Queensland Youth Parliament provided me with a great participatory experience of the state political system. It also honed various existing transferable skills that I have such as a love for public speaking, negotiation, and giving constructive criticism.

Through working at the Queensland University of Technology as a student ambassador I get to visit schools and expos and interact with potential students to let them know about life at university and give them guidance on their tertiary study choices. Through that job I've been able to develop my interpersonal skills through the many interactions with clients, developed my teamwork skills by working alongside fellow ambassadors, and show that I can capably represent and promote a big brand with a high degree of professionalism.

It really is a demanding position but I think that I have the necessary skills and abilities to fill it.

}}
 * My motivation to stand in the election comes from my own passion and belief in the policy of the party, the things it supports, and the things it takes issue with. Over recent years I've become more and more disgruntled with the running of this country and I decided that I didn't want to sit idly by any longer. From there it was an obvious link that the best thing I could do would be to put my hand up to represent the party that so closely mirrors my own beliefs. And of course as I outlined above, I think that I am well suited and so want to offer my skills and abilities to the party.
 * I've been a member of the party since January 2014 and while up until now I haven't been very directly involved I like to stay up to date by reading party news and various minutes and decisions.
 * I take an interest in politics and, like many other candidates here and other members, I was initially drawn to the party because of its beliefs surrounding Democracy, transparency, privacy, and technology. As a young person my deepest interests lie in technology, the internet, and related areas such as copyright, media-monopolies, and net neutrality but I also think that lots of the other parts of party platform are practical, sensible, and what Australia could benefit with.
 * LinkedIn Profile
 * LinkedIn Profile

{{Candidate| |

Christopher Harris
I have solid experience across broad variety of community sectors, and I don't want to be a traditional politician - I don't want to be known for being a politician, I just have same issues as everybody else, I ask the same questions as everybody else and feel it's about time an ordinary bloke stood up and found the answers on behalf of the thousands of people who are sick to the back teeth of excuses and the constant blame game that is Australian Politics
 * I am not a politician - I am actually connected to community of disenfranchised voters, being one myself.
 * Every normal person I talk to has questions, and every politician I talk to gets their exercise by passing the buck. I feel people are disenchanted with politicians because they can't get straight answers to simple questions from people making decisions - I'm frustrated myself, so want to put my hand up, so I can say "The Buck Stops With Me".
 * Since starting my membership, I've provided a sounding board for other members. I have facilitated better understanding of party and movement goals in community sectors in which I'm regularly involved. Have also assisted party's goals by helping non-members gain information despite limited political transparency and expressed to them that some of party's goals  involve increasing political transparency - helping to keep the bastards honest.


 * If didn't agree, wouldn't even be here. I've been contributed to open source software for the last five years, along with advocating for broader use of same.  I have also contributed time and occasionally money to fighting the whole idea of software patents, which I feel are indefensible.
 * I am 29 and a freelance software developer, I have been doing so for ~8 years. Across my adult life I have been active in a number of community projects. I also run an open home for those indeed, most commonly teenage run aways and other street kids. This has been my primary focus and the majority of my income is spent maintaining this endeavour.

I believe that my personal history and my long engagement with the disenfranchised members of the community provide me with a unique perspective on the problems and issues faced by these groups, additionally my work in software development has given me well grounded experience in intellectual property issues and legislative problems that restrict business. My interest in the pirate party was driven as the result of the disconnection many people feel from their "representatives". I believe that even though I have no first hand experience in the political arena, my personal commitment to the community, to the health and well being of it's members and my firm commitment to engagement and transparency make me an ideal candidate to represent the Pirate Party at any level of government. }}

{{Candidate| |

Brandon Selic

 * I am a lawyer working for a small Community Legal Centre; I am able to get results despite being under-resourced. I also have insight as to the direct impact the current Federal Government policies are having upon the wider community.
 * I am frustrated by the lack of a viable political opposition movement in Australia and would like to see the Pirate Party become part of such a movement. We've made some good progress, and now we need to build on that.
 * I first became involved with the Pirate Party in 2009 and was very briefly head of the Legal Committee. I left as I did not feel we were making as much progress as we could at the time. In the five years since then I have become more patient and aware of the realities of starting such a venture from the ground up. I also assisted with the most recent Federal and Griffith By-Election campaigns and have liaised with the Queensland Civil Liberties Network on the Pirate Party's behalf. I became Queensland State Coordinator in 2014, and am currently involved in several committees.

To advance the Pirate Party, I would campaign as best I can for the Federal Election, regardless of receiving the party’s nomination or not. I would attempt to highlight our policies to the electorate and even if we are not successful in campaigning, try to ensure that the issues we are advocating for are talked about and at least in the forefront of voters’ minds.

Further, I would advocate an aggressive recruitment drive with the end goal being to register the Queensland branch as a political party to contest seats at the next Queensland State Election. I would also hope to diversify our membership base.

Finally, I would seek to make formal alliances with other political parties, civil liberties and community groups that share our core values and that we can work with cordially. To implement any change in Australia, we are not going to be able to work alone.
 * Yes, though I feel we are in a position to expand that platform.

I have previously been a member of the Australian Democrats. }}
 * Email: brandon.selic@pirateparty.org.au

{{Candidate| |

Isaac Pursehouse
I previously studied a Double Engineering (Mechanical) & Business (management) degree at QUT and am currently doing a Bachelor of Professional Communications (PR/Journalism) at CQUni. I have a varied background from my “gap decade” before attending university that started in IT, moved through Child Care, Army Combat Engineering, a few retail, hospitality and training roles and even a couple of corporate desk jobs before getting the opportunity to work in Nepal helping to develop medical and educational volunteer programs and then creating my own social enterprise consultancy service to assist positive change action groups and organisations.
 * I have developed suitable skills for the role such as being a confident public speaker and communicator, having a friendly trustworthy demeanour, a wide range of general knowledge across technical areas, and I have many connections in the Brisbane community from spending years working with various community and government organisations.

As my understanding of the issues grew, I took on more responsibility in these groups and with that experience I was offed other roles at other organisations, which led to more understanding and gaining the experience to take advantage of the opportunities to actually make a difference. This long journey has led me to taking the final step up into Federal government to try to tackle the issues that cannot be solved down at the grassroots or any other level in between.
 * After a major life event 6 years ago I started dedicating my life to challenging the issues I saw around me. I started volunteering with many groups to get a feel for how these issues were affecting people and start to understand the causes and hopefully work on finding solutions to them.


 * I have been regularly attending the Brisbane PPAu Meetups over the past 18 months and offered to take on the communications role for the group.

Apart from the fact that I am a born nerd with an ongoing love of tech and gadgets; What really impressed me with the PPAu was not only its dedication to digital civil liberties that have become a real issue in our technologically interconnected society, but that it is understood that basic human rights and an individual’s dignity must be equally provided for before these higher level rights can be achieved. The PPAu was also the only party to officially mention and support the Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the constitution which I feel very strongly for as I have lived and worked with several Indigenous groups.
 * In the lead up to the 2013 federal election I decided to find a party that fit my own personal libertarian beliefs and researched through the Platforms and Policies of all the more left wing parties as I was not satisfied with how Labor and the Greens were operating.

During the QLD State election I helped the Greens by supplying some training to their campaign volunteers and I have been involved on the ground with a few GetUp Campaigns that has a large Labor support base, but the Pirate Party is the first political party I have become an official member of.


 * Chief Instigator @ Guerrilla Welfare - facebook page website

Engineers Without Borders - Australia
 * SEQ Region Local Partnerships Manager
 * National Local Partnerships Development Team
 * SEQ Region PC's Project Coordinator
 * EWB@QUT Chapter Vice President

Amnesty International (QLD/NNSW)
 * Group Organiser (Trainer)

Relevant training completed:

IFRC (Red Cross Aust)
 * Project/Programme Planning (PPP)
 * Leadership of the Cross-functional manager
 * Cross Cultural Negotiations

QUT's "Business Advantage" and "Leadership, Development & Innovation (LDI)" programs:

Building Cultural Intelligence, Change Management, Eco-Justice

Emotional Intelligence, Visual Thinking, Intercultural Competence

Leadership Foundations, Listening and Speaking, Evolution of Leadership

Mindfulness, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Servant Leadership

Small Group/Team Dynamics, Social Change Theory, Social Justice

Succession & Sustainability, Group Decision Making, Consensus Building

Teamwork in Action

The full list of my experiences can be found on Linkedin

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South Australia
none

Victoria
{{Candidate| |

Richard Burleigh
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 * I am a passionate believer in the principles that make up the Pirate Party, and have been a vocal advocate for the advancement of civil liberties in the information age. I have demonstrated managerial experience in high-responsibility positions, thrive when under pressure and have an unwavering desire to fight for what is right.
 * Victoria has the second highest representation of 'left-leaning' senators in Australia (Tasmania leads the way), in addition to being one of the few states to elect independents (Source: AEC). I am seeking to give Victorians a voice in this election by bringing the Pirate Party to this key state.
 * The Pirate Party represents a beautiful mix of ideas completely aligned with my own, many of which I have supported in various ways both personally and professionally. I currently run a TOR relay, have used Bitcoin regularly since 2010 and have advocated for and implemented FOSS at various NGOs. While my direct contributions to the Pirate Party may be limited to the exploratory stages of the membership database project, I will do everything in my power to raise the profile of the Pirate Party and pursue the policies of which it stands for.
 * I was a member of the WikiLeaks Party before switching to the Pirate Party in September 2014, and every Pirate Party policy I have seen since then has been a direct representation of my own views. It would however be naive to believe this will be the case for every future policy, and that's okay. I believe strongly in the Pirate Party's foundations as an evidence based, participatory democracy, and will accept the policies of which my fellow Pirates have deliberated and voted on.
 * LinkedIn Profile
 * Twitter
 * Twitter

{{Candidate| |

Lachlan Simpson

 * I have over twenty years of experience as an political activist, in various Melbourne anti authoritarian groups, with a focus on the internet and the media. I have experience as an event and community organiser. I have worked anti-social hospitality jobs, politically conflicting and dislocating volunteer jobs, and have worked professionally in NGOs, the education and health sectors and the private sector as both a labourer and an independent contractor. I have started organisations, left organisations I've loved and watched organisations I love die. I believe that this collection of experiences gives me a good set of skills for representing Australians in parliament - empathy and an understanding of life on welfare and it's edges; good political analytical skills across a long list of issues; the ability to negotiate; a large network of people I trust and can call on for advice; and shows a commitment and passion for politics and political life.
 * I'm disappointed with the options available to progressive voters. I think there is room on the political landscape for more progressive independents, and that Victoria is a state where that could be a reality. With the Pirate Party, I feel that my activism and political beliefs are finally represented and articulated successfully by a community - I have found someone I could vote for. I would like to be the person that the party trusts to take the vision of that community to the Federal level.
 * The extent of my formal involvement with the Pirate movement so far has been donations to campaigns, sticking up stickers in my neighbourhood, and advocating for the Pirate Party at Open Knowledge Australia events when discussions turned political. My involvement with the broader movement is long standing.

I am looking forward to being able to bring my experience in policy areas like Justice and Development Aid (I was an Australian Aid worker in Kiribati) to further the policy position of the party and broaden the discussion at a national level in those areas. Further continuing to campaign on issues of privacy, freedom and openness, and holding the major parties to account on those issues is also something that I would like the opportunity to do.

}}
 * My political activism over the last twenty years can only be described as an informal involvement with what-would-become-the Pirate Party. Often focused on the underlying political narratives of the party - Freedom, Democracy, Science - I've been involved in independent media; education around, use, and support of, Free and Open Source software; the Open Knowledge movement - I was a co-convener of OKFN Melbourne, winner at GovHack 2014 and an organiser of GovHack 2015, particularly the on site childcare; I was an organiser of the S11 protest in Melbourne; I was an admin of and journalist on, Melbourne Indymedia in the late 90s; I was a founding member of SpaceStation - a media lab set up in a Brunswick warehouse in 2001; a member of the Engagemedia collective; a presenter on 3RRR's Byte Into It radio program; I've worked as a Systems Administrator for The Wilderness Society. There are many more that are less noteworthy or forgotten.
 * Twitter
 * Last FM
 * My *old* blog, pineappledonut
 * A paper I wrote titled "Kiribati Information Technology Improvement Project"
 * A paper I wrote titled "Kiribati Information Technology Improvement Project"

{{Candidate| |

Luke Housego

 * I am a passionate activist and contributor to internet culture since the beginning of the internet. Laughed out of an executive meeting for suggesting email will become a mainstream form of business communication, looked at with abject horror when saying we should create a thing called a web page with a "you nerds think everyone is going to think your little computer things are interesting". I have lived and breathed the frontline of social transformation that is the internet.

I work in big business and have worked for many of the largest companies in Australia. My job is to sell ideas, sell visions for a better future and then articulate how they work to a skeptical unengaged audience. This is how I pay my rent.

Professional, articulate, I inspire and give the confidence to people to invest money and support to these ideas because they can see it will make their life better.

Formerly I have had organiser roles in the ALP and branch level the Liberal Party. In my student years I lead a faction which took over all student bodies at my university. I was also part of State and Federal level election campaigns, from chain smoking back room preference swap trading, to the black arts of not quite breaking campaigning laws and organising large teams of campaigners.


 * I want to support the Pirate Party. It is an important political institution that is unique in its focus on what is to me the most critical issues - information, transparency and privacy. Fundamentally its about fairness - equity for Australians - that cannot be bullied by people with superior resources misusing information. It is about breaking down corruption through transparency, not letting people stand in the way of innovation or progress because it upsets a group that have stacked an industry in their favour. And it is about Information - our access to it, how it is valued and how ideas ownership and rights have more to it than just who filed the paperwork fastest.

I believe I am a highly credible candidate that will help move the Pirate Party forward in achieving stronger recognition.


 * Early on I was involved to some degree, and have maintained a level of engagement including discussions to setup myself as a Coordinater for Melbourne.

To advance the Pirate Party further I want to strengthen our identity as members through improved face to face meetings and also mechanisms to talk and socialise online. From this basic social structure for activists and members I want to help drive impactful and meaningful messages with action as outcomes for people to get involved and help.

As a father of two teenagers, I particularly think our message has a lot of appeal for the youth and we can do a lot to inform and drawn from them for talent and ideas, and who knows even our future leadership.


 * I am firmly what would be classified as classic Pirate Party where it is focused on Digital / Information rights and Government transparency and personal privacy.

I am not a generic leftist. Whilst "Drill baby drill" may be a touch overstating it, I strongly support economic growth and am not against military spending for instance. But I do believe firmly in fairness and social equity. Australia stands out as a nation for giving people a fair go, and to me that means every Australian - even the most recent to arrive off a boat.

I have been a member of the ALP and Liberal Party. }}
 * LinkedIn Profile
 * LinkedIn Profile

{{Candidate| |

Joshua Kelly
I feel that a varied combination of factors such as the recent PNG constitutional ruling about Manus Island, the Panama and Unaoil leaks, widespread voter discontent, and internal fighting amongst members and factions of the major parties has created a unique opportunity for the Pirate Party that despite my inexperience I simply cannot allow myself to miss. I am a confident and charismatic speaker and feel that with the proper support I can really help raise the parties profile in this election, perhaps even to the point of winning a seat! |

I am relatively new to the Pirate Party and I (somewhat ambitiously) plan to use this election to prove myself as a member. I also agree with the parties ideals on a fundamental level and hope to raise awareness and support over the election.|

I have spent almost all my time with the party so far watching and learning, waiting for an opportunity not unlike this one to present itself. I believe most of my potential usefulness comes from offering a different perspective to many of the other candidates. As a result of personal tragedy I have spent most of my adult working life washing dishes, working in factories, and delivering pizza to cover the cost of my intermittent education. This has given me serious insight into the lives of those Australians on the bottom few rungs of our societal ladder, a perspective which I feel is sorely needed in modern politics.|

I do agree with the Parties ideals. It was in fact my frustration and disappointment over the introduction of the metadata retention scheme that got me into politics and led me to this party. I have no other official political affiliations but I was a vocal supporter of Gamers 4 Croydon back in 2010, despite being unable to vote in the SA state elections.|

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 * None, I try to keep my online presence relatively low, but I accept this will have to change should I be nominated.

Tasmania
{{Candidate| |

George Phillips
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 * I have been passionate about civil liberties and politics for as long as I can remember, majored in Political Science (at UWA) for my undergraduate degree, and have followed and advocated for many of the causes championed by the Pirate Party all my adult life. I have a Masters of Information Management and my background working in libraries and information management has also made me familiar with many of the issues relating to both copyright and Freedom of Information laws. I am currently studying a Graduate Diploma of Computing part time to improve my technical knowledge. I was an active member and committee member of the Tasmanian division of Toastmasters for two years, during which I gained a good deal of experience in public speaking.
 * Frankly, because we needed someone to make up the numbers in Tasmania. While I don't expect to be elected, I felt obliged to do whatever I could to support our primary candidate, given the reluctance of anyone else to nominate for either position.
 * I have been a member since 2013 IIRC, during which time I have donated to several campaigns and promoted the Pirate Party on Twitter and Facebook. I haven't been able to attend many meetings due to a scheduling conflict, but hope to attend more in the future and contribute more to the Discussion forum,
 * Yes, I strongly identify with and support the Pirate Party platform and ideals. Until I found the Pirate Party, I spent many years feeling politically homeless, so upon finding a party that so closely matched my views, I immediately decided to join a political party for the first time in my life.