The ACT Greens’ federal election candidates (from left): Kathryn Savery, James Cruz, Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng, Tim Hollo and Natasa Sojic. Photo: ACT Greens.
The ACT Greens have announced their remaining federal election candidates, after having named Tim Hollo for the seat of Canberra and Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng on the Senate ticket earlier this year.
They are touting the team, which includes three women, one Indigenous, as a diverse list to represent Canberra’s progressive community.
Accountant, artist and small business owner Kathryn Savery will run in the southern seat of Bean; refugee advocate and environmental scientist Natasa Sojic will run in Fenner; and librarian and unionist James Cruz will join Dr Goreng Goreng on the Senate ticket.
Ms Savery said volunteering in the 2020 ACT election motivated her to run in Bean.
“It was an amazing campaign that demonstrated the level of community support for the Greens across the ACT,” she said.
“That’s why we’ve started campaigning early. We’ve already participated in a series of community forums, stalls and door knocks, and had an overwhelming response with particular concern about climate change and political integrity.”
Ms Savery said her career helping small and large businesses manage their financial affairs has shown her that better financial management would allow the government to achieve better outcomes for everyone.
She also said people in the south of Canberra who remember the Black Summer bushfires want elected representatives willing to act on climate change.
Ms Sojic, resource recovery and procurement officer at Canberra Region Joint Organisation, has led projects removing soil and water contaminants, supporting local councils to divert waste from landfill, and increasing the demand for sustainable, compostable and recycled material.
“I would be proud to represent this diverse and inclusive community, which, like me, wants a local MP who will vote in parliament to end offshore detention and provide greater support to new Australians,” she said.
Ms Sojic said Canberrans overwhelmingly back the Greens’ plans to cap donations to political parties at $1000, and establish an Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Mr Cruz, who ran in the seat of Kingsford-Smith in Sydney at the last federal election, said concerns with inequality and economic justice are on the rise.
“I think the COVID-19 pandemic has shown just how precarious we all are, and reminded people of the importance of universal public services and welfare systems that meet people’s basic needs,” he said.
Mr Cruz said growing up in public housing also showed him how critical it is that Australia has quality public services and welfare systems that meet everyone’s basic needs.
He said inequality has deepened, particularly when it comes to housing and job insecurity, and that the Federal Government’s decision to cut the JobSeeker rate to back below the poverty line has made matters worse.
ACT Greens spokesperson Clancy Barnard said that due to the surge in membership since the 2020 ACT election, the party will hold community events in every suburb in Canberra.
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