North Queensland’s Senate candidates for 2022 federal election

While the spotlight shines brightly on the fight for the seat of Herbert, there are a number of North Queensland-based senate candidates vying for a spot in the upper house. Meet the candidates and find out what they stand for >>>

WHILE the spotlight shines brightly on the fight for the seat of Herbert, there are a number of North Queensland-based senate candidates vying for a spot in the upper house.

The Senate’s role is to scrutinise and closely examine the decisions of the House of Representatives.

>>>MEET THE HERBERT CANDIDATES

MACKENZIE SEVERNS – Animal Justice Party

Mackenzie Severns – AJP.

Meet Mackenzie: I grew up on the Sunshine Coast and moved to Townsville at the start of 2017 after completing high school to study a Bachelor of Advanced Science at James Cook University. I have remained in North Queensland since graduating and work for a non-profit organisation in the water quality sector to help stakeholders improve water quality and mitigate downstream impacts on the Great Barrier Reef.

From a young age I have been passionate about animal and environmental protection, but never thought I’d become interested in politics. Over the years I have seen a lot of footage from farms, slaughterhouses, live export ships, medical testing facilities, and of animals used in entertainment.

In early 2019 I heard about the Animal Justice Party for the first time, and learned about the leverage we could have in achieving tangible change for animals and nature through the political system. Remembering the fear and pain in these animals’ eyes is what drives me to be a strong advocate for animal protection at a political level.

Why the Senate? I aspire to achieve legislative change for animals, people and the planet. More specifically, the issues I want to address during my time in parliament are ending live animal exports, introducing animal friendly shelters to help victims of domestic violence flee to safety, protecting precious native habitat by halting land clearing and promoting regeneration, and a strong action plan for addressing the climate and biodiversity crises.

As the youngest female Senate candidate, I will bring a fresh perspective to the political arena that is relatable for young Australians. Today’s youth are the future leaders of this country, so our voices must be heard on those topics that are going to affect our future. We need diverse representation in politics because the current government consists mostly of middle aged white men who do not represent the varying perspectives of Australian voters.

Why the AJP? The AJP has several elected representatives in the Victorian and New South Wales Parliaments as well as in local government. They have been able to achieve significant improvements to the lives of animals and it is time for similar changes to take place at the federal level.

Senate candidate Edwina Andrew in Townsville. Picture: Caitlan Charles

EDWINA ANDREW – Labor

EDWINA Andrew is not a career politician.

In fact, it is her goal as a Senate candidate for Labor to hold those people to account for the people of Queensland.

Ms Andrew, who grew up in Townsville, has spent most of her working life in the child and family sector, which she credits as a key factor in her decision to run for the Senate.

“I have always worked in the child and family sector, always working to support children and families in areas of disadvantage, particularly in regional Queensland,” she said. “Much of my career has been in regional Queensland and I have seen so much go on, so much disadvantage, so much important decision-making that goes on that affects people in the region.”

Ms Andrew said she hoped to create change for the regions, but knew it would be a difficult task.

Ms Andrew is third on Labor’s Queensland Senate ticket, which means a Kevin ’07 landslide would be required to secure her the spot.

But despite that, Ms Andrew is determined to make noise about the needs of the people and be a voice for regional Queensland.

Having lived in Richmond, Gladstone, Rockhampton and Townsville, Ms Andrew says she has had a lot of experience in the issues regional Queensland faces.

She said people in regional Queensland were lacking the “basics of life”.

“We’re talking about access to health care, access to education, access to housing and access to secure work,” Ms Andrew said.

“We’re seeing the rental squeeze now, even in Townsville, and in fact in Townsville I think it is exacerbated because people are coming from big cities and they come into Townsville as a large regional centre.

“But they’re also going Outback – to smaller towns like Charleville, Mount Isa – it’s horrific at the moment, you see things like little one-bedroom dongas with plastic showers going for $400 a week. It’s just not affordable.

“Then there is a line-up of people applying for it, and Townsville is just the same.”

Ms Andrew said there were things, like affordable housing, that everyone had a right to access.

While she thought about running for state government and the lower house federally, Ms Andrew said it was where policy came to “live or die” that really had her interest.

“That (the Senate) is where the government’s held to account, that’s where decision-making happens,” she said. “That is where I wanted to have that impact.”

Ms Andrew is a mother and grandmother, which she says has helped drive her to want to represent the views of the community.

With children and family members who work in health, transport, as first responders and more, she says she knows there is work to be done for the community.

“If I’m saying I want to be elected to the Senate, I’m also representing the viewpoint of the community, so I’m not taking my own views, I’m taking other people’s views,” she said. “I know what is important for people in everyday life and the support work that I’ve done … but I need to hear from people what’s important for them.”

Ms Andrew is the partner of Townsville Bulletin journalist Leighton Smith.

KAP Senate candidate

ROBERT LYON – Katter’s Australian Party

A NORTH Queenslander involved in the cane industry will represent Katter’s Australia Party in the fight for a seat in the Senate.

Robert Lyon (pictured) will give voters straying from the major parties an option to vote differently come May 21, with his key focus centring around agriculture, infrastructure and regional issues.

“I think the country and the state are looking for some more down-to-earth people to represent them, rather than people just making careers out of political mistakes,” Mr Lyon said.

Mr Lyon, born and bred in Abergowrie, comes from the land and has extensive knowledge in the sugar cane business.

He said this has enabled him to understand what residents outside of major cities want, and the importance of creating a future for families and pensioners.

“We have to make room for those people (and) have to let them have a reasonable lifestyle for people who have paid taxes all their life and have to retire,” Mr Lyon said.

“I don’t think the pensioners have kept up with that … these are some of the issues this country is going to face immediately.” Mr Lyon echoed the party’s sentiment of nation building infrastructure.

“If you’re looking to build a future for our kids, look, we need to have infrastructure that’s the core of any business.”

Peter Rogers.

PETER ROGERS – Independent

Peter Rogers was born and raised in Townsville and has been a successful businessman since 1982, according to his website.

He told the Bulletin that his main reason for running is to make a difference for Queensland, saying he was not in it for himself.

He wants to provide a voice for the men and women in the region in the Senate.

“Government authorities and politicians should be working FOR the men and women of this nation – supporting rather than over-governing – but in reality that’s not what’s happening,” Mr Rogers said on his website.

“Haven’t you had enough? The time for change is NOW. That’s why I am standing with you and for you as your independent representative.”

MARTIN BREWSTER – United Australia Party

Martin Brewster is no stranger to elections in North Queensland.

Mr Brewster, who served in the RAAF for 27 years, and is still a reservist, has lived and worked in the North Queensland regions for more than 20 years, according to his UAP profile.

Mr Brewster is a civil engineer with 35 years experience in the industry, working in senior executive positions, in both the private and public sector, including construction, mining and mineral processing industries, local government and federal government.

UAP

DESMOND ADIDI – United Australia Party

Desmond is a long-term resident of North Queensland and is passionate about issues of culture and diversity, according to his UAP profile.

Mr Adidi’s profile says he was inspired to become a community leader by his grandfather, who fought in WWII, and then helped develop indigenous communities in the Torres Strait Islands.

He has worked in small business, wholesale, education, youth mentoring, mediation and in other volunteering positions.

Originally published as North Queensland’s Senate candidates for 2022 federal election