Six more independents join Franklin fray

Independent candidate Peter George says he will lead a group of seven like-minded independents in Franklin in a bid to seize two or more seats from the “zombie parties”.

Independent candidate for Franklin in the upcoming state election, Peter George with associates Dr Rayne Allinson, Louise Cherrie, Chrissie Materia, Andrew T Jenner, Kirsten Bacon, and Anthony Houston outside Parliament House in Hobart. Picture: Linda Higginson

Independent candidate Peter George says he will lead a group of seven like-minded independents in Franklin at the coming state election in a bid to seize two or more seats from the “zombie parties”.

Mr George was joined by more than 100 supporters on Parliament Lawns on Sunday to launch his state election campaign.

The former ABC correspondent ran a slick and well-funded campaign in the recent federal election, garnering 21.7 per cent of the primary vote and finishing second with 42 per cent of the vote after preferences.

He launched a four-pronged election manifesto, which included opposition to the proposed Macquarie Point stadium, restrictions on fish farming and a strengthened integrity body.

“The destruction of Tasmania by these two zombie parties doing deals with the top end of town behind closed doors has to end,” Peter George said.

“That’s why I’m standing as an independent and that’s why six other independents are standing with me – to build a strong crossbench that will seek to lift Tasmania out of its present crisis.

“Under the zombie parties, Tasmania has been sold out and close to bankrupt. Unless the new parliament commits to fundamental change the next decade will be just like the dead decade of the 1990s, when Tasmanians were forced to suffer the consequences of irresponsible government, paying for its failures with their jobs, businesses and services.”

He revealed Rayne Allison, Louise Cherrie, Chrissie Materia, Kirsten Bacon, Andrew T Jenner and Anthony Houston would join him as candidates in Franklin.

Mr George said he and his team would run under four “pillars”.

“The first and most urgent pillar is budget repair — ditching a $1.86bln stadium, the Marinus link and irresponsible vote-buying promises,” he said.

“Pillar two is social repair — a renewed focus on health, housing and education.

“Pillar three is island repair — no new salmon farms, a transition of salmon farming to land through a mix of rising taxation and subsidies if they move to land; an end to native forest logging; and a fair return to Tasmania from extractive industries.

“Pillar four is integrity repair — legislating for a proper Independent Commission Against Corruption with teeth and ensuring greater transparency of government decisions.”

He said that neither of the major parties had shown themselves to be adept at dealing with the crossbench — which was likely to grow in the new parliament as more people turned to alternatives.

“Tasmanians don’t trust the Liberals and can’t believe Labor. They’re corrupted, incompetent and untrustworthy.”