Pirate Congress 2014/Nominations

Adding a Nomination
If you wish to nominate yourself for a position, please create your nomination using the template below. If you need assistance adding your nomination, shoot an email to secretary@pirateparty.org.au and we'll help you out.

{{Candidate| |

Catty McCat
I am a cat!| How dare you question my justification!| I purr.| Maybe, I am a cat.| }}
 * None

= Nominations =

President
{{Candidate| |

Brendan Molloy
I was Secretary of the Party from 2010 to 2013, and remained a Councillor for the past year so I could focus on fewer administrative tasks and more management and growth-based tasks. I was the Lead Senate Candidate in NSW for the Pirate Party in the 2013 Federal Election, and I assisted in the management of the Griffith by-election campaign, specifically in the management and organisation of volunteers (driving around a rental Nissan Micra delivering electoral material all over Brisbane was amazingly fun).

I have continued to represent the Party in public fora such as the Australian Digital Alliance forum, and have been working vigorously in my capacity as Programming Officer to ensure that we have the streamlined capacity to handle the years of growth ahead.| I have spent a lot of time simultaneously in the background and foreground of the Party. I have taken part in almost every activity this Party has ever undertaken, be it writing press releases, government submissions, managing our social media presence, managing the backend services of our Party, coding those very services (voting system, etc), speaking with the media and running for Parliament under our banner.

If elected President, I would work towards the following:


 * Cooperatively building a strategy for greater engagement of women within the Pirate Party
 * A strategic reconsideration of our communication model (both internal and external communications)
 * Scaled recruitment in order to form functional state branches in order to reach the goal of 20,000 members by 2017.
 * Work closer with foreign parties (Pirate Party and other) on TPP and other issues

In summary, I would cherish the opportunity to be the formal leader of this great movement and push us forward in the coming years.| Beyond what has been covered in the previous two sections:

It basically goes without saying that I love this Party. I don't love it because of what it claims to represent, but because it actually does what it says on the label. We have built up a strong, responsible core of members that I trust to take the Party to the next level as we focus on building stable state and territory branches over the next three years.
 * Member since 2008, Secretary from 2010 to 2013, Councillor from 2013 to 2014
 * Campaigns involvement:
 * Lead Senate Candidate for Pirate Party in NSW
 * Built the "Get a Warrant" mini-campaign website
 * Volunteer Coordinator for Griffith By-election (Mel smashed it btw, was awesome)
 * Crowdfunding campaigns:
 * First FOI campaign (Target: $1,080; received: $1,485)
 * WA By-election ($10,000 target; received $11,385)
 * Second FOI campaign (Target: $1,000; received: $1,403)
 * About 10 freedom of information requests since elected as Councillor on issues from AGD copyright documents, to the TPP, to ironically withheld submissions on amendments to "18C".
 * Interviews, press releases, assistance with submissions; there's little I haven't contributed to in one way or another over the last 12 months.|

We have the structures to ensure oversight and accountability to our members and the public going forward, and I think this is the single point of difference that matters the most. Other parties may claim to be transparent and democratic, but we are the only party who has consistently proven that we are just that.

I look forward to working with you all on making the Party as strong and inclusive as it possibly can be.| }}
 * Twitter
 * [mailto:brendan.molloy@pirateparty.org.au Email]
 * Brendan on IRC; come say hi!

Deputy President
{{CandidateRef| |

Brendan Molloy
See biography listed under President. }}

{{Candidate| |

Simon Frew
As the current President of Pirate Party Australia I feel that I have a demonstrated ability to be effective returning to the role I filled before being elected. I contributed significantly to our first election campaign, heading up the Election Committee. I worked on numerous law reviews, including patent reforms and Telecommunications Intercept and Access reviews. I fronted the media on numerous occasions including on The Project, Triple M, ABC radio. I helped oversee the development of the Party over the last year as President. This is the role I desire most.

My life situation has changed, my band is getting regular gigs and I have a part time job, so I don't feel I am able to sufficiently contribute as President in the coming year (I prioritised PPAU activities above all else over the last year). I support Brendan Molloy's candidacy as he has contributed more than any other member to the Pirate Party over the last few years and has enough experience to front the media and argue for our views.| I still have a lot time and energy to contribute to PPAU and feel that the Deputy President role is most suited to my abilities and time constraints. Having filled this role for two years before being President I am well aware of the duties and responsibilities and feel that taking up the role again is the best way I can contribute to the Party over the next year.| I have a demonstrated ability to handle the media, to organise events and fulfill the responsibilities of being Deputy President, both when I served as Deputy previously and in my current role as President.

I will continue to work on parliamentary reviews, write articles, contribute to meetings and help build the profile of PPAU.| I support the Pirate Party platform and ideals and will do my best to uphold them into the future.

I have been an activist for the last 18 years, so have participated in a wide range of movements and campaigns. I joined the Pirate Party in its very early days because it aligned with my beliefs and goals and joining was the best way I could contribute to politics in Australia.| }}
 * http://www.simonfrew.com/
 * https://twitter.com/AKFRU
 * I'm Frew on IRC

{{Candidate| |

David Crafti
I was President of the Party for the first year from 2009-2010, after which I was on the Dispute Resolution Committee, and I have been on the Policy Development Committee since it was formed.

I have a Master of Laws, which I pursued in order to be able to contribute to political discourse with a legal understanding of how and why things are the way they are, and so I can contribute to change from within the system.

I have also been working in IT for over a decade, with several years of management and leadership experience, with a focus on collaboration and consensus-building, and these are always helpful skills. Having now graduated from the Master of Laws degree I had been undertaking for the past 4 years, I have more time to dedicate to the party and the pursuit of its policies. I have been very involved in the expansion of our policies since the party was formed, and I not only think that the policies themselves are fantastic, but also the open methodology that we follow in order to create them. I would like to continue this involvement and also have the opportunity to strategise about, and contribute to, communicating our policies to the broad public in both common and innovative ways. I am running for several positions, and I would be happy being able to contribute from any of them.| I have co-organised two protests regarding Pirate-based issues like censorship and spying and I've spoken at a few protests in order to communicate the Pirate perspective on issues of significant importance that the media tends to downplay. I have contributed to the Policy Development Committee, chairing the working groups for reform of democratic institutions and the proposed Tort of Privacy, and contributing to many other policies. I spoke to the media quite a lot in the early days of the party, appearing in a couple of national magazines, a few radio stations and also on LateLine. With that experience, my ability to speak live to the media about our policies is quite good.| The Pirate Party is the only political movement with which I've ever identified enough to join. In the early days, I felt that the core policies were critical enough to join and campaign for change. With the more expanded platform, no other party could come close, and the policies are always a work in progress, so the party is only getting better.| }}
 * http://www.craftiscranium.com/
 * http://au.linkedin.com/in/crafti
 * https://twitter.com/dcrafti
 * That stuff what what I said last year: http://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/Pirate_Congress_2013/Nominations#David_Crafti

Secretary
{{Candidate| |

Fletcher Boyd
Placeholder as intent to nominate| }}

{{Candidate| |

Daniel Judge

 * Having held the position of Secretary for the past year I have gotten a good feel for the position and what is required by it. While surgical complications with my leg meant I do feel like I didn't manage to achieve everything I had hoped to achieve during the past year as Secretary, the leg has finally (mostly) mended and am well and truly back in the swing of things. I do hope the party membership will see fit to allow me to continue in either the Secretary or Deputy Secretary role so as to give me a chance to continue to contribute to party at this level.

I also heartily endorse Fletcher Boyd's candidacy for both Secretary and/or Deputy Secretary. Fletcher excelled as a WA Senate Candidate and has contributed to the party well as WA Co-ordinator and on the Press Team and would be a valuable new addition to an executive role.

Aside from being the incumbent Secretary, I am also on the Policy Development Committee and remain committed to seeing the Pirate Party become an important political force in Australia.

Outside of the party I currently work full-time at the University of Wollongong as an "Analyst/Web Architect" (aka 'Web/Multimedia Programmer') and have done so since 1998.

In 2010 I completed a Bachelor of Internet Science and Technology with Distinction, having changed from half way through second year of an earlier Bachelor of Arts (History & Politics degree). I feel these give me a good awareness of IT issues as well as their associated socio-political ramifications.

Previously I worked the Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs at the Commonwealth Employment Service in various roles, ranging from in-house Computer Trainer, to Case Manager of Long Term Unemployed, to administering large scale recruitment activities, running workshops, as well as a range of Administrative activities.

In addition to the above I also have completed certificates, diplomas and training courses in a number of areas such as Spanish Language, Electronics Technology, Office Administration, Multimedia Production and various in-house employer training in matters such as dispute resolution, cross cultural awareness, indigenous affairs, time management, Equal Employment Opportunity, and interview panels.

My education and employment history has given me a broad experience in dealing with people from a wide array of backgrounds and motivations and allow me to have a good grasp in many different fields of interest.

I am a father of three and have traveled extensively around the world.| Having spent the last year in the Secretary position I feel it is important to retain some level of constancy in the position, whether that be remaining as Secretary, or working as Deputy Secretary to assist a new person as Secretary (especially with Mozart not contesting the Deputy Secretary position this year).

Serving on the National Council, and thus being more involved in the administration of the party than ever before, has only increased my desire to see the party succeed and remain involved in doing so. As well as reaffirming my belief that the Pirate Party is a party worth backing and putting time and effort into. I do feel that remaining involved in the NC in this capacity is the best way I can continue to contribute to the party.| As well as occupying the position of Secretary I am also on the Policy Development Committee helping to draft, approve and broaden current and future party policies.

Previous to this I worked on the Registration Work Group, matching the details of our membership against the Electoral roll and where necessary contacting numerous members to update their information, so as to facilitate the successful registration of the Pirate Party with the AEC.

I have assisted when possible in the writing and proofing of a number of Press Releases and review/inquiry submissions, maintaining wiki resources, and fielding a range inquiries via email and over the phone, along with various administrative duties that have come with being Secretary (such as obtaining quotes and placing orders for goods, overseeing and approving various design materials, taking and marking up meeting minutes, party correspondence, membership details and updates and so on).

In the future I hope to assist further in the immediate party goals of facilitating the creation & registration of state based parties and locally arranged meetings/branches. Having a strong federal structure has served us well and helps to keep us 'on message', and so now it is time to take that to the next level and ensure we build upon our support at local levels and have grass roots regional support systems in place to aid in running for local and state elections. Building such a core network of localised support will enable us to better contest elections and thus become more recognised among voters as a viable option, while helping to build the membership base. | In the Pirate Party I finally found a political party and movement that I feel has the right mix of policies, principles and democratic practice. I am really enjoying seeing the party expand it's platform in a good direction which I feel is essential to most voters for the Pirate Party to be considered a worthy of their vote. Our commitment to scientific evidence based policies is even more crucial under the current government. I still feel that the broadening of the surveillance state is the biggest threat to our way of life and the democratic future of the next generations. Meanwhile the Internet stands to be one of the most crucial tools and one of the best opportunities to enable the people to empower themselves, educate themselves and set things right. Similarly it could also be a great danger should it be subverted by those who fear it, or who stand to gain by turning it against the population. Preventing this outcome is imperative to deciding the direction of society in coming years. As such I wholeheartedly support the Pirate Party platform and its ideals.

I have a long history of being involved in politics having many decades ago been a member of the Labor Party, however I quickly became disillusioned with the internal machinations of the ALP and resigned long ago. I then became involved in what is now the Socialist Alliance, but was not comfortable with many of their actions and ideals, not least of which was a far too authoritarian nature.

During the late 90's early 00's I was involved in many grass-roots local groups and campaigns around local environmental issues, Freedom for East Timor, Anti-War, refugee issues and opposing racism and Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party.

Having largely left the political scene due to family illnesses, a desire to raise a family and the drive to complete my University degree, I had observed the Pirate Party with interest from its foundation days, finally joining just over two years ago due to an overwhelming desire to help the party achieve its successful registration. Having done so, I now haven't looked back and am grateful to finally find a political party that matches my own views and principles in regard to transparency, participatory democracy, information technology, and the focus on digital rights and civil liberties.| Twitter: @feenicks Email: [mailto:daniel.judge@pirateparty.org.au daniel.judge@pirateparty.org.au] }}

{{CandidateRef| |

David Crafti
See details listed under Deputy President. }}

Deputy Secretary
{{Candidate| |

Fletcher Boyd
Placeholder as intent to nominate| }}

{{CandidateRef| |

Daniel Judge
See nomination details listed under Secretary. }}

{{CandidateRef| |

David Crafti
See details listed under Deputy President. }}

Treasurer
{{Candidate| |

Ben McGinnes
I have been the Party Treasurer since last year's Pirate Congress and wish to continue this work, much of which deals with the financial obligations to the AEC for the elections we contested last year and this year.| I believe I can best serve the Party by continuing the work we began last year to build the finances of the Party and improve the systems available to the Party for that purpose. As well as dealing with the continuing electoral requirements from the elections we contested.| I have worked on a number of issues which advance the interests of the party, including being a member of: I have been the Victorian State Coordinator since early last year and I co-wrote the Party submission to the National Security Inquiry in 2012. I also lodged our first annual return with the AEC.| I helped write a decent portion of the policy we took to the election last year. As the policies are essentially based on the platform I do agree with that platform for the most part. In the rare circumstances where there is disagreement, that simply leads to a robust debate which strengthens the party. My previous party affiliation included a brief period in the Australian Democrats from late 1998 (just after the election) to mid 1999.| }}
 * the National Council (Treasurer)
 * the Policy Development Committee
 * the Elections Committee
 * This is my preferred position.
 * Website: Organised Adversary
 * IRC handles: Ben, Hasimir
 * My candidate information for this position in 2013 is here
 * I don't want to scare people off running against me, but in the interests of full disclosure you should note that the electoral returns are part of the annual returns for this coming end of financial year and will be the first thing for the 2014-15 Treasurer to handle.

Deputy Treasurer
{{Candidate| |

Mark Gibbons
I believe I am the first PPAU Deputy Treasurer to have actually stayed in the role for a full year. As such, I consider myself to be uniquely qualified.

I have some prior experience in finance and a day job dealing with economics.| I'm keen to finish work which Ben and I currently have underway. This includes setting up PPAU with proper accounting systems, making our payment process nimbler, and concluding the post-election paperwork horror show.| I've been Deputy Treasurer for the past year. In that time I've set up PPAU with a robust banking system which would normally cost $40 per month, and negotiated with the bank to get it for free. I worked on various other treasury-related tasks and was also an invited speaker at the Liberal Democratic Party National Conference where PPAU's views and policies garnered a lot of interest.

In 2013 I was Policy Development Officer and had responsibility for developing the election platform. I've been deputy president of the ACT branch and was a candidate for PPAU in the 2012 ACT elections, when I fronted community gatherings, gave radio and newspaper interviews and represented the party in forums. I've written an article or two and helped out with speeches and PRs from time to time.| I agree with our platform and fully support the core PPAU values including freedom of speech, open culture, liberty, democracy & science.

In the 1990s I was briefly a member of the ALP and mucked around a bit in student politics.| }}
 * None

Registered Officer
{{Candidate|

Michael Keating
I joined PPAU in January 2014, and took the position of QLD Co-ordinator after Mel Thomas declared leave from the position. I have also contributed to various press releases over the last few months and am looking to assist further in PPAU in the position of registered officer.| To continue the work already done in furthering the PPAU movement in QLD by filling the position of registered officer and working with the party in its aim of transparancy and openness.| I have created the QLD Branch Formation Committee with a goal of creating a state branch within the next 6 - 12 months. I also assisted with Mel Thomas's Griffith By-election campaign by handing out HTVs. By filling the position of registered officer I would assist the party to ensure it's integrity and openness in the eyes of the Electoral Commission.| Yes I do, and I have not been a member of any other political movement.| }}
 * IRC Handle: Keating

Councillor (2 positions)
{{Candidate| |

David Campbell
This is a role I held for 2012-13 and my prior role as President of the Party combined with my ongoing work with the National Council make me qualified. I am seeking to remain an active member of the National Council in a non-primary role as a voice of reason, devils advocate and whip holder. I am well aware of the requirements of our Council ongoing and I wish to continue my service to the National Council, ensuring we remain the open, transparent and democratic organisation I admire. I have fulfilled the role of President 2 years running, run as candidate for the Senate, operated the IT committee when the shoe strings were made of dental floss and have represented the party at national/international level in a positive & professional manner in a variety of venues. I hope to continue representing the party in a professional manner and ensure we remain on a steady course as we grow and shape the modern political landscape in Australia. As the government becomes more and more secretive and totalitarian we must remain the strong, transparent and democratic beacon of hope. Yes, I agree with and like many others in this wonderfully open organisation have had a hand in shaping the platform and ideals, it is the polished culmination of what a determined open and democratic party can achieve and I could not imagine myself within any other political organisation or movement. I was briefly an associate member of the short lived shoplifting party, but I am afraid that was just shenanigans. Website: http://dc84.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/davidcampbell84 }}

{{Candidate| |

Simon Frew
As the current President of Pirate Party Australia I feel that I have a demonstrated ability to be effective returning to the role I filled before being elected. I contributed significantly to our first election campaign, worked on numerous law reviews, fronted the media and helped oversee the development of the Party over the last year as President.

My life situation has changed, my band is getting regular gigs and I have a part time job, so I don't feel I am able to sufficiently contribute as President in the coming year. I support Brendan Molloy's candidacy as he has contributed more than any other member to the Pirate Party over the last few years and has enough experience to front the media and argue for our views.| I still have time and energy to contribute to PPAU and am happy to help in any capacity. Having served as Deputy President for two years before being President and also being Co-Secretary, I am well aware of the duties and responsibilities.| I have a demonstrated ability to handle the media, to organise events and fulfil the responsibilities of being Deputy President, both when I served as Deputy previously and in my current role as President.

I will continue to work on parliamentary reviews, write articles, contribute to meetings and help build the profile of PPAU.| I support the Pirate Party platform and ideals and will do my best to uphold them into the future.

I have been an activist for the last 18 years, so have participated in a wide range of movements and campaigns. I joined the Pirate Party in its very early days because it aligned with my beliefs and goals and joining was the best way I could contribute to politics in Australia.| }}
 * None

{{CandidateRef| |

David Crafti
See details listed under Deputy President. }}

{{Candidate|

Melanie Thomas
TODO| }}

{{CandidateRef| |

Daniel Judge
''If I fail to be elected as either Deputy Secretary or Secretary, I would love to remain involved in the National Council as a Councillor. See nomination details listed under Secretary.'' }}

New South Wales
{{CandidateRef| |

Brendan Molloy
A general overview of my qualifications can be found under the President heading.

What I specifically bring to this position however is a wealth of experience with the administration of a Party, as I registered our Party in 2013 as the Party Secretary. As NSW has the most onerous registration requirements of any state or territory in Australia, being 750 members and management of just as many paper forms (they don't allow digital forms of any kind), I believe I am the most qualified person to lead us through this arduous period of registration, with a strong team of volunteers to make it a reality. }}

Queensland
{{Candidate|

Michael Keating
I joined PPAU in January 2014, and took the position of QLD Co-ordinator after Mel Thomas declared leave from the position. I wish to continue in this role and development of a QLD State Branch. I have experience in working in and running committees and groups from indoor netball in QLD to car clubs.| To continue the work already done in furthering the PPAU movement in QLD by setting up a state branch and encouraging more people to join.| I have created the QLD Branch Formation Committee with a goal of creating a state branch within the next 6 - 12 months. I also assisted with Mel Thomas's Griffith By-election campaign by handing out HTVs.| Yes I do, and I have not been a member of any other political movement.| }}
 * IRC Handle: Keating

South Australia
{{Candidate| |

Bryn Busai
Because I seem to be the member in SA who is interested in re-starting the SA crew! ;-) I strongly believe in the principles that the Pirate Party supports and I am prepared to advocate for these principles to become part of national policy.| I would like to help the State party to participate in the next State Election, and help re-build the party. | I have contributed to Policies and organised a few meetings but I hope by continuing as State Coordinator I can help advance the parties ideals much further. | I agree with all of the policies and ideals of PPAU. I am a former member of Gamers4Croydon, who did How-To-Vote Handouts. | }}
 * Handle:Mandrke
 * Resume: Available upon request!

Tasmania
{{Candidate| |

Tim Serong
Despite looking stern in this photo, I've been told I'm at least moderately sane and tend to get on reasonably well with other people. These both seem like good qualities in a coordinator.| Someone's got to do it, and I'd really like to see a Tasmanian state branch formed.| I've helped out with our press releases. I've got monthly meetings going in Hobart again (OK, only three so far, but you've got to start somewhere). I'd like to see if we can get some meatspace "PPAU branded" (for lack of a better term) events going -- discussion formums, talks, that sort of thing.| Seriously? Does anyone ever answer "no" to this question?

Yes, I'm in agreement with the party plaform and ideals. I've not been involved with any other political movements or parties (unless you count occasionally signing petitions and tossing a few coins at seemingly worthy causes).| }}
 * I'm on Twitter and Google+. I have a blog.  My LinkedIn profile is the closest thing I have to a public, up-to-date resume.  I deleted my Facebook account.

Victoria
{{CandidateRef| |

David Crafti
See details listed under Deputy President.

I'd really rather Mark Street ran for this, but I don't want another year to go by without having any organisation or meetings in Victoria. }}

Policy Development Officer
{{Candidate| |

Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer
I have been involved with the Pirate Party since mid-2011. Shortly after I joined I was appointed Press Officer and have written the bulk of our press releases over the last three years. In 2012 I was elected Deputy Secretary, and assisted Brendan (who was then Secretary) in registering us as a federal political party. Since 2011 I have contributed to almost all submissions the Pirate Party has made across a broad range of topics including patents, copyright, national security and civil liberties. In addition to this I was elected Policy Development Officer at the last Congress, which has led to an increase in submissions being made. I am currently halfway through a graduate Bachelor of Laws, having already completed a Bachelor of Music.| I am disappointed with my work as leader of the Policy Development Committee, which is a result of both biting off more than I could chew as well as the disruption of three elections. Nevertheless, I feel I am capable of leading the Committee if I focus on that task. As I am expecting to be overseas for the first half of 2015, I decided against running for a National Council position. This will reduce my responsibilities to the Party and allow me to focus more on policy development. I expressed a clear intention not to run for any positions at this Congress unless there was a shortage of candidates, so if anyone else wishes to nominate I will withdraw my candidacy :)| See my answer to the first question. In addition I have helped organise the last three National Congresses as well as the Policy and Preselection meeting in April of 2013, and represented the Pirate Party at conferences such as the Advisory Council on Intellectual Property's innovation patent roundtable and the Australian Digital Alliance's forum earlier this year.| Having written press releases promoting the Pirate Party's positions to the media and arguing for their adoption through submissions, I can safely say that I strongly agree with the platform and ideals (as well as the fact that I've even written parts of the platform!). I have never been a member of another political party or movement.| }}
 * None

Dispute Resolution Committee Member (2 positions)
{{Candidate| |

Hayden Dwyer
As a founding member of PPAU, I have attended the foundation meetings and was heavily involved in the drafting of the first constitution of the Party. As such, I have an intimate knowledge of rules and regulations binding members of the Party. I have been a member of the Dispute Resolution Committee for the past 4 years, and have previously held the role of Deputy Treasurer.| My goal is to maintain relatively smooth relations between party members in the hopes that we can keep infighting to a minimum. I believe infighting has caused a lot of issues in other parties, and holding the position of a DRC member, I can directly help to mitigate this risk. Furthermore, as PPAU is quite important to me, I'd like to have an active hand in ensuring its members are comfortable with each other. | As stated above, I have been a member of PPAU since its infancy in 2009, and was involved in the drafting of the constitution, much of which is still used now. I have previously been a member of the National Council as Deputy Treasurer, and attended the National Congress as a physical representative in that role. I was also at one stage involved with the IT Working Group (when it was the IT Committee), though left due to the large number of members involved. I have attended several rallies/protests hosted/co-hosted/attended by PPAU, though I haven't done so lately due to living overseas. Again, as stated above, I hope to further the pirate movement by keeping disputes within the party to a minimum, which I believe will ensure that we can continue to attract members to a friendly, open environment. | I heavily agree with the core principles of the Party, though I'm not shy to say when I believe a principle may be verging on scope creep (where those principles exceed the boundaries of free culture, civil liberty or intellectual rights). However, that's not to say that I don't agree with them, just that I don't wish to alienate members with opposing views. I have never been a member of another party or political movement. | }}
 * None

{{CandidateRef| |

David Crafti
See details listed under Deputy President. }}