Federal Election 2019: Fisherman Craig Garland casts net in third tilt for office

Maverick independent Craig Garland says he doesn’t want to spend the next six years in Canberra — but he will if it leads to better stewardship of Tasmania’s natural assets.

MAVERICK independent Craig Garland says he doesn’t want to spend the next six years in Canberra — but he will if it leads to better stewardship of Tasmania’s natural assets.

The longtime fisherman has built a one-man political movement on the back of plain speaking and a growing disdain for the major parties.

Now he senses that a Senate seat might be within his reach.

Mr Garland won 3 per cent of the primary vote in his tilt for the state seat of Braddon in last year’s state election, building to 10.6 per cent in the federal by-election in the same electorate.

He is hoping the votes of the state’s 100,000 recreational fishers will help lift him into the Senate. He will need 14.2 per cent of the statewide vote to reach a quota.

“I hope to get across to the fishing community of this state that we haven’t had a voice for a long time and we’re getting screwed,” he said. “Now is your opportunity.”

“If they want a voice, this is their chance because I am not doing it again.

“I don’t like city life, going to Canberra is like going to a prison. It's a big ask giving up six years of my life, but it has to be done.”

Craig Garland senses a Senate seat might be within his reach. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Mr Garland says Tasmania continues to trade away the state’s best assets to corporate interests without considering the good of the wider community.

“It's the giving out, the handing over of what belongs to us,” he says peeves him the most.

“Bring the community in to make the decision on the commons, whether it is our parks, or our waterways or our fisheries,” he said.

“It’s about being done right, in the right place and with the community’s blessing. They’ve given over our waterways to private corporations with no public tender.”

Third time around, Mr Garland is running a slightly better financed campaign as his support base grows, he has spent money on T-shirts and a few more banners.

On a visit to Hobart from his home on the North-West Coast, he admits he has been recognised and encouraged by the support.

“I’m not here to please anyone else. I’ve had offers to join parties but I see the parties as where the problems lie,” he said.

“I see the old days as the best example — the community got together in a hall and worked out the issues and sent someone to represent them.

“I never gave a bugger about politics … but someone has to take responsibility.”

Nominations for the Senate close on April 23.