Nicolette Boele appoints herself the Shadow Representative for Bradfield
Never let the election result get in the way of your ambitions — this appears to be the motto of a failed Teal independent who has rebranded herself as a “Shadow Representative” of the electorate.
NSW
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A Teal independent who lost the 2022 federal election has rebranded herself as the “Shadow Representative for Bradfield” while cutting the ribbon for a brand new “shadow” electorate office.
Failed independent Nicolette Boele made the bizarre announcement on Twitter and her website and shared pictures of her outside her new office along with Climate 200’s Simon Holmes a Court — Climate 200 donated millions of dollars to the campaigns of Teal candidates in the May election.
She also revealed she intends to run again at the next federal election.
“I’m proud to cut the ribbon on Australia’s first Shadow Representative Electoral Office right here in Bradfield,” Ms Boele said while urging people to sign up to her new bulletin.
Ms Boele’s website also lists her with the made up new title where she updated the community on her “new role” with the slogan “Better is Possible”.
In a lengthy post, the Bradfield resident clarified that despite her confusing title — she cannot support visa applications or citizenship ceremonies.”
“As your shadow representative I see my role to listen to you about what matters to you and find ways to have your voice heard.”
“To be clear, I am not the elected member for Bradfield (yet), and only that member can advocate to help you with your parents’ visa applications or attend their citizenship ceremony,” she said.
“Nor can I walk into parliament and vote on a bill. But I can make representations on your behalf. I help support you to have your voice heard and can help hold those in authority to account for the efficacy of how our systems operate in practice.
“If I can earn the confidence and honour of your vote when we next go to the polls to decide who will represent the people of Bradfield in Canberra, then it is important that my team and I are equipped with the skills they need to help support our community and are experienced to do so.”
Mr Holmes a Court — who has repeatedly said that the Teals are not a political party — promoted Ms Boele’s new venture on his own social media.
He said the community independent’s movement supports democracy and innovative solutions like the creation of a “shadow representative”.
“First and foremost, the community independents movement is about democracy. There’s (sic) all sorts of innovation with (the) goal of restoring confidence in politics to work _for_ voters,” he wrote.
“E.g. Nicolette Boele and volunteers have launched as a shadow representative.”
Ms Boele and Mr Holmes a Court were contacted for a comment.
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