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 [email protected] and we'll help you out.

Catty McCat

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

I am a cat!

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

How dare you question my justification!

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

I purr.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

Maybe, I am a cat.

Additional Documentation:

• None

Nominations

National Council

President

Brendan Molloy

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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 or putting our case to DFAT on issues such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership through public briefings, and have been working vigorously in my role of Programming Officer to ensure that we have the streamlined capacity to handle the years of growth ahead.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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, with the goal of reaching 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.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

Beyond what has been covered in the previous two sections:

• Member since 2008, Secretary from 2010 to 2013, Councillor from 2013 to 2014
• Committee membership:
  • Policy Development Committee
  • Programming Working Group
  • IT Working Group
  • Election Committee (all candidates and the whole NC were though :P)
  • Previously involved with the precursors to the Social Media Team and Press Team
• Campaigns involvement:
  • Lead Senate Candidate for Pirate Party in NSW
  • Returning Officer for the WA Preselection Meeting
  • 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 Attorney-General's Department copyright documents, to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, to ironically withheld submissions on amendments to "18C".
• Pushed for the introduction of our new discussion forum and assisted with its implementation (major kudos to the ITWG for the quick and hard effort they put in to launch it so quickly)
• Lobbied for PPAU interests within Pirate Parties International.
• Interviews, press releases, design work, assistance with inquiry submissions, publicly representing on behalf of the Party, holding meetings; there's little I haven't contributed to in one way or another over the last 12 months.

Ultimately, our focus for the next 12 months should be growth and engagement. We have already made significant headway in this area, and in conjunction with devoted state coordinators, we should have little trouble making significant headway towards having registered branches in every state within the next three years.

I believe with my experience and institutional knowledge gained from the work I've conducted over the last 5-6 years puts me in a unique position to take the Party forward.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

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.

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.

Additional Documentation:

• Twitter
• Email
• Brendan on IRC; come say hi!

Also, I am likely to be in Sweden for several months of the early part of next year, however, I do not see this as likely to have a large impact on the day-to-day operations of the Party.

Thomas Randle

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

I joined the Pirate Party shortly after discovering this movement has begun in Australia and realising it represents my world view. I firmly believed in the founding principles of the Party before I became a member, and prior to becoming a member I was dismayed there was no political movement which could adequately represent a free, open and transparent society in the digital age. I understand the importance and relevancy of our core values and will do everything I can as President in support of our Party.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

I am seeking the position of President in our Party so as to provide our movement with my experience and skills, when I joined this party I made the decision to participate in the political process of our nation, and ensure that the values of our Party are represented and heard as loudly as possible. This movement, our movement, is I believe the best hope for our future.

As President I will begin work immediately with the National Council to develop an agenda for the coming year, focusing on some core issues while touching all aspects of how our Party functions, including:

• Resolving our membership communication issues and improving participation by our membership between congresses
• Preparing for and reaching a critical mass, it's time the mainstream really heard about the Pirate movement and our vision
• Getting our members the resources and support they need from the National Council to advance our Party and our values as quickly as we can

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

Since joining our Party I've played a role in a lot of different areas of our organisation, such as:

• I was the lead Tasmanian Senate candidate at the September 2013 Federal Election, where we gained our Party's best ever first preference Senate election result thus far
• I was the Campaigns Officer and lead of the Campaigns Committee during the build up to and during the last Federal Election:
  • Producing and approving posters, flyers and all sorts of materials for the election campaign
  • Putting boots on the street, letter boxing extensively with the help other members!
  • Contributing to press releases and driving media attention to our cause where ever possible
• I was also a member of the Elections Committee during that time
• and as the first Tasmanian State Coordinator for the last few years

In running our party's Campaigns Committee, we accomplished the redesigning of our website, which included supporting tablets and mobile devices properly for the first time, we made major improvements to our branding and presentation, correcting logos and styling in our social media presences. As the election approached last year I and a few other party members were running our social media presence across Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Within the campaigns and elections committees we produced all of the Party's materials for print and social media, posters, flyers and the like for the election campaign.

I stepped down from the Tasmanian Coordinator position recently and I'm grateful to Tim Serong for stepping into that role, which now allows me to commit all my time to the National Council. During my time as State coordinator we held regular meet-ups and created the working group to begin the formation of a Tasmanian branch of our Party. I've also presented at a number of events on behalf of the Pirate Party, including the Hobart Cryptoparty and a Privacy Tasmania event just before the last federal election.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

I agree with our current platform and believe in our founding principles and have not been involved in any other political parties.

Additional Documentation:

• Twitter
• Email
• Rundll on IRC

Deputy President

Brendan Molloy

See biography listed under President.

Simon Frew

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

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.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

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.

Additional Documentation:

• http://www.simonfrew.com/
• https://twitter.com/AKFRU
• I'm Frew on IRC

David Crafti

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

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.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

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.

Additional Documentation:

• http://www.craftiscranium.com/
• http://au.linkedin.com/in/crafti
• https://twitter.com/dcrafti
• That stuff what what I said last year: https://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/Pirate_Congress_2013/Nominations#David_Crafti

Thomas Randle

See nomination details listed under President.

Secretary

Fletcher Boyd

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

Since joining the party I have assisted with the upkeep of our mediawiki instance to insure that information is readily accessible for all. With my extensive experience creating accessable content I'm the perfect candidate to push this within the party. I also have experience in the internal maintenance of the party as a State Coordinator and can apply this knowledge to the position.

I fully endorse Daniel Judge for both this position and Deputy Secretary, his guiding hand is absolutely needed within the council.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

I've spent a year working with the party's internal procedures and am ready to assist with the smooth operation of the pirate movement. I also have a keen interest in making sure that all information produced by the party is accessible for everyone and believe that this is the best way to make that happen.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

When I first joined the party in mid-2013, there wasn't really a WA state branch to speak of. Since taking over the position of WA Coordinator we have seen a significant increase in activity within the state. In addition to this, I represented Pirate Party Australia in the 2014 Senate re-election and achieved one of the highest senate primary vote counts by the party to date. This is primarily due to the fantastic contributions of WA members, alongside multiple TV, radio and print appearances. I have represented the party at multiple community events, such as the Perth TPP forum, and at meetings with organisations such as Blind Citizens Australia and DFAT. Moving on from this point, I will continue to work with other groups in WA to increase awareness of both the party and our policies in the wider community. A great example of this is my involvement with the internet activism forum planned for next month.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

I have not been a member of another political party and I agree wholeheartedly with the party ideals and platform.

Additional Documentation:

Mediawiki Changelog

userpage

Daniel Judge

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

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.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

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.

Additional Documentation:

Twitter: @feenicks
Email: [email protected]

David Crafti

See details listed under Deputy President.

Deputy Secretary

Fletcher Boyd

See nomination details listed under Secretary.

Daniel Judge

See nomination details listed under Secretary.

David Crafti

See details listed under Deputy President.

Joseph Miles

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

I have jobs with the same aspects you’d expect from a Pirate Party National Council Member, namely President of Apollo Bay Radio, Spokesperson of Apollo Bay Community Against Fracking and media team member for both Protect The West (a regional ‘Lock The Gate’ group) and The Otway Conservation Association.

I was also the lead Victorian Candidate for the Pirate Party in the last year’s election, and until my second child came along I was on the Policy Development Committee (which I’ll look to rejoin in Jan 2015).

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

The reasons are twofold;

Firstly, I’m really craving active involvement in the Party, and now my boys are slightly older I can dedicate some time to this. Specifically regarding the role of Deputy Secretary, I want this job because I know the job of Secretary is gnarly and that person needs a solid assistant. I can be it.

Secondly, there’s an immense and varied workload put on the Secretary, and I can dedicate 4-6 hours per week to lending a hand. It’s stupidly important work that needs doing, and I want to help make sure that happens. Should I not be elected as Deputy Secretary then look out for my application to rejoin the Policy Development Committee and maybe the Design Team.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

As I've written, I stood for the Pirate Party as a Senate Candidate for Victoria and have been a member of the Election Committee & Policy Development Committee. The second part of this question is pretty much answered above, though I will say it’s really fun to bring Pirate ideals into other organisations :) This is easier than it sounds, and I’m happy to chat with people about how this can be done well.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

In 2013 I wrote this, and I still stand by it;

“The platform and policies of PPAU are the only set in existence which actually make sense. That's why I joined. I haven't been a member of another party because of this. I have worked on the periphery of some free information and queer rights movements, but nothing to write home about, though as part of my welfare job I am constantly involved in advocacy work.”

Additional Documentation:

• I tweet often at @Filter_Select
• I write sometimes at joe.jdsl.me
• I’m JoeMiles in IRC (/me waves)
• This is what I said last year

Thomas Randle

See nomination details listed under President.

Treasurer

Ben McGinnes

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

I have worked on a number of issues which advance the interests of the party, including being a member of:

• the National Council (Treasurer)
• the Policy Development Committee
• the Elections Committee

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.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

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.

Additional Documentation:

• 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

Mark Gibbons

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

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.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

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.

Additional Documentation:

• None

Registered Officer

Michael Keating

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

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.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

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.

Additional Documentation:

Yes I do, and I have not been a member of any other political movement.

Joseph Miles

See nomination details listed under Deputy Secretary.

Councillor (2 positions)

David Campbell

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

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.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

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.

Additional Documentation:

Website: http://dc84.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/davidcampbell84

Simon Frew

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

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.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

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.

Additional Documentation:

• None

David Crafti

See details listed under Deputy President.

Melanie Thomas

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

I feel I'm more than qualified for this position as I've held the DP role for the last year. I'm thoroughly acquainted with our constitution, our policy platform, and the general aims and goals of the party.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

I would love to move into councillor role as I can no longer commit to the DP role. I've just started uni study again, along with working full time so I really need to stay focused in that for the first year or so. A councillor role would enable me to still contribute to the NC without presidential responsibilities.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

Experience includes DP as mentioned, as well policy development, where I assisted with the formation of a large number of our policies. As I've served on the NC for the last year I have full knowledge of party decision-making. I've also been Qld State Coord as well as an election candidate, so the full spectrum of responsibility.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

the Pirate Party perfectly compliments my world view. I've assisted with the formation of most of the policies as these reflect my beliefs. The PPAU is the only party I've ever committed to joining as its the only party that stands for what I believe in in totality. I'm currently also a foundation member of the Qld Civil Liberties Network, a group which I formed with other groups and minor parties in Qld with the specific aim of forming an alliance to fight the draconian moves of the Newman government. Also over the years have been an activist in many groups including environmental and and animal rights

Additional Documentation:

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.

Fletcher Boyd

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

I have participated in National Council meetings as a Coordinator since 2013 and am familiar with the inner workings of the party. This, coupled with my recent performance in the 2014 Senate election makes me a perfect candidate for an executive position

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

I believe I am ready to step up and contribute to the direction of the party at a national level. While this is not my preferred position I believe I can still make a difference here.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

See history details listed under Secretary

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

I have not been a member of another political party and I agree wholeheartedly with the party ideals and platform.

Additional Documentation:

Mediawiki Changelog

userpage

Joseph Miles

See nomination details listed under Deputy Secretary.

Thomas Randle

See nomination details listed under President.

State/Territory Coordinator

New South Wales

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

Michael Keating

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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. I wish to use this experience with my people skills to drive the growth of PPAU in QLD and seek to make a state branch to challenge the incumbent parties.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

I took over the role as QLD Coordinator earlier in the year with a view to start the QLD Branch Formation Committee, start the monthly meetups again and assist with hosting National Congress. I wish to build on the work already started here and continue to grow the QLD membership base, with an eye to making a state branch to run at the next state election.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

While I have only been a part of the Pirate movement for a short period, I have been involved in a number of areas. From handing out HTV during the Griffith by-election, to assisting with writing of press releases from PPAU, to writing to State Government members on behalf of PPAU.

I also created the QLD Branch Formation Committee with a goal of creating a state branch within the next 6 - 12 months. I have helped to restart the monthly Brisbane PPAU meetups and would like to see these build from informal gatherings to more formal meetings and discussions. I would also like to encourage the growth of the QLD membership base through the use of membership drives and publicity.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

Yes I do, and I have not been a member of any other political movement. There is room to grow in PPAU's policies to become relevant on a state level and these should be encouraged in true Pirate Party fashion as we expand.

Additional Documentation:

• IRC Handle: Keating
• Email: [email protected]

Brandon Selic

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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 State Government is having upon the wider community.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

I am frustrated by the lack of a viable political opposition movement in Queensland and would like to see the Pirate Party become part of a viable state opposition movement. We've made some good progress, and now we need to build on that.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

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.

To advance the Pirate Party, 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, which will be held on or before June 20 next year. That is unless further amendments to election laws are passed, pushing Parliamentary terms in Queensland out to four years as opposed to three. During this, I would also hope to diversify our membership base.

Further, I would begin seeking viable candidates to contest at least two seats at the next State Election.

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 Queensland, we are not going to be able to work alone.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

Yes, though I feel we are in a position to expand that platform.

I have previously been a member of the Australian Democrats.

Additional Documentation:

Email: [email protected]

South Australia

Bryn Busai

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

I would like to help the State party to participate in the next State Election, and help re-build the party.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

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.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

I agree with all of the policies and ideals of PPAU. I am a former member of Gamers4Croydon, who did How-To-Vote Handouts.

Additional Documentation:

• Handle:Mandrke
• Resume: Available upon request!

Tasmania

Tim Serong

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

Someone's got to do it, and I'd really like to see a Tasmanian state branch formed.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

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.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

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).

Additional Documentation:

• 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

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.

Western Australia

Fletcher Boyd

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

I have held this position since late 2013 and in this time we have seen a dramatic increase in participation from WA. The results of this are expanded upon below.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

I have nominated for this position because I enjoy working with people and I believe I'm the best person for the job.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

See details listed under Secretary

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

I have not been a member of another political party and I agree wholeheartedly with the party ideals and platform.

Additional Documentation:

2014 Senate Preselection Nomination

2014 Senate Preselection Speech

userpage

Officers

Policy Development Officer

Andrew Downing

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

• I have operated in various professional software architecture leadership positions for around 20 years.
• I am a systems thinker. I lead via creative processes, soliciting input and working the entire problem space until we find complete holistic solutions based on evidence.
• See PPAU contributions to-date listed below.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

• I've been working in the PDC for a while now. I think it's time to step it up a notch.
• Also, I expect to have a bit more spare time on my hands this year that I can contribute to this position.
• I am interested in finding ways to broaden the range of contributors to our policy development.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

• I have served as a member of the PDC since its inception.
• I have successfully led policy development groups as a part of the PDC, for example, to develop the current Bill of Rights policy ... https://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/Policies/Bill_of_Rights .
• I have contributed by way of research, writing and meetings, to the development of our existing policies on Drug Reform, Copyright and Patent reform, Net Neutrality and Privacy.
• I have an active interest in participative democracy processes. I wrote the high level requirements for the development of our own online participative democracy system that you can read at: https://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/Polly/High_Level_Requirements.
• I have handed out endless how-to-vote slips in the last election.
• I have attended the last 3 PPAU annual congress meetings in person, so I understand the processes for policy submission to the membership.
• I attend almost every monthly PPAU NSW meetup, so I am well in touch with activities.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

Yes. Pirate Party Australia is the only political party I have ever wanted to be a member of. The others looked like rubbish.

Additional Documentation:

• None

Dispute Resolution Committee Member (2 positions)

Hayden Dwyer

Why do you feel that you are qualified for the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

Why are you seeking the position for which you have declared your candidacy?

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.

What experience/contribution have you made so far to the Pirate movement, and what will you do to advance or better the Party and movement?

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.

Do you agree with the Pirate Party platform and its ideals? What other political movements or parties have you been a part of?

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.

Additional Documentation:

• None

David Crafti

See details listed under Deputy President.

Joseph Miles

See nomination details listed under Deputy Secretary.

Specifically regarding the Dispute Resolution Committee, I’m able to bring a few things to the table. My professional life has brought me many opportunities to develop my skills in conflict resolution, augmented communication, expectation management and debriefing. I will make myself available to members by email, IRC, IM, Skype and Mumble.