Pocock picks a running mate

ACT independent Senator David Pocock has announced that community advocate and ANU student Hannah Vardy is his running mate for the federal election.

The 21-year-old is a fourth-year law, biology and climate science student, and has worked as a research assistant and in Senator Pocock’s electorate office supporting constituents and working on policy.

A lifelong Canberran, Ms Vardy has been part of a leadership team advocating across the parliament and the community to legislate a duty of care on climate for young people and future generations.

The campaign, which includes a private senator’s bill Senator Pocock introduced in parliament, has garnered support from more than 25,000 people across Australia.

Senator Pocock said Ms Vardy has already had a huge impact on the community in her 21 years and he looked forward to the added contribution she could make during the campaign.

“Young people have so much to offer when it comes to having the courage to tackle the root causes of the big challenges we face,” he said.

“Hannah has been an outstanding advocate on issues that her generation carries an outsized burden on.

“Tackling growing intergenerational inequity, driven by things like housing unaffordability, ballooning student debt and the impacts of our changing climate, has to be a priority for the next parliament.

“I believe it’s also really important that we foster the next generation of leaders coming into the parliament and the independents movement to keep giving authentic voice and representation to our community.

“We need to listen to the views of young people and create opportunities for them to contribute to our nation’s political leadership.

“I’m excited for the contribution Hannah will make to our community in her capacity as my running mate at the next election.”

Ms Vardy is also an avid long-distance trail runner.

She insists that the ACT’s “beautiful nature reserves and mountain ranges” are among the reasons why it is a wonderful place to live.

“I decided to stand as Senator Pocock’s running mate in the upcoming election because I believe it is vitally important that youth voices are not only heard in democratic and political processes, but are able to meaningfully contribute to the decisions that will impact our lives the most,” Ms Vardy said.

“Working with our community here in the ACT across different roles, I have come to understand the issues that matter most to Canberrans and the ways in which short-term decision making is letting people down. I want to be part of the work to change that.”

Following re-endorsement from proACT to run again as the community-backed independent ACT senate candidate, Senator Pocock launched his 2025 campaign on Sunday (16 March) at Old Parliament House.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is yet to set the date for the federal election, which has to be held before 17 May.

At his preemptive launch, however, Senator Pocock said electoral changes recently pushed through parliament by Labor and the Coalition aimed to lock out new independents.

He said “safeguarding our democracy” while standing up to “major party vested interests” would be a big part of the campaign.

“All the consultation I’ve done across our community shows four key issues are at the top of Canberrans’ agendas for the election: cost-of-living, housing, health, and climate and environment,” he said.

“And this is what Hannah and I will be campaigning on.”

Added to those issues is another topic to once again feature in the independents’ campaign.

“Integrity in government and fighting to get the ACT our fair share of federal funding also remain big concerns for our community,” Senator Pocock said.