Federal election: Indi kept independent, Haines eyes collaborative role

GRASSROOTS politics has kept the federal Seat of Indi in independent hands.

Helen Haines: Seeking a way forward on climate change.

GRASSROOTS politics has kept the federal seat of Indi in independent hands.

As of yesterday independent Helen Haines was set to win the seat by a thin margin, despite having suffered 3.9 per cent swing against her as Cathy McGowan’s successor.

Dr Haines put the win down to her campaign’s focus on “grassroots community democracy”, which was “inclusive” and did “not herd the community into a position”.

“My emphasis is to concentrate now on Indi, to work with an engaged community,” she said.

But the big question now is what can Dr Haines deliver as one of six crossbench members whose power is limited, given the Coalition is set to hold an outright majority in the House of Representatives?

“My role is to join other crossbenchers who are deeply concerned about climate change … sit down and collaborate with the agriculture and water ministers and have conversations that are not based on fear, but on finding a way forward,” Dr Haines said.

“I think the people of Australia want action on climate change.”

Given her electorate covers the some of the Murray River’s highest yielding headwaters, Dr Haines said the Indi community had “deep concerns” over how the Murray Darling Basin Plan was being delivered.

“With Labor and the Coalition they (the community) have lost trust in the governance of the plan,” she said.

Asked if she thought the MDBA was conflicted, Dr Haines said she believed it needed to do a better job of policing the delivery of the plan.

The sustainability of the nine local councils that sit in or intersect her electorate is another issue the independent MP wants to try and resolve.

“Rural local governments, have a smaller ratepayer base, with much bigger footprints covering more infrastructure,” Dr Haines said. “But I don’t think past federal governments have taken much notice of this.”

As it stands she said just 0.55 per cent of federal tax revenue was going to local government, a number she wanted to raise to 1 per cent.