LIBERAL candidate David Honey’s lack of an appearance at the Cottesloe candidates forum and the relatively few attending members of the public is a disappointment.
Ok, Cottesloe is so safe for the Liberals they could run the proverbial drover’s dog and win in the by-election, but does that mean they have to rub everyone else’s face in it too?
Indeed, the previous member for the safe seat, Colin Barnett, despite all his alleged faults, was known for attendance at community gatherings, and would front up at local meetings and protests to face the music.
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READ NOWAlthough there were only about 50 residents at the forum there is a dictum that they will tell others what happened that night and the word will spread.
Backgrounding by the Liberals about a potential bias at the forum because it was organised by a Green was unfounded.
After all, why would the party of Menzies be scared of a bunch of greenies who, in fact, were not there?
As it was, Greens candidate Greg Boland put together an evening in which local people, those with ideas on things that need addressing in new ways, were able to be heard away from the monoliths of the two major parties.
It’s called participatory democracy, after all, and the six on the stage at the Cottesloe Civic Centre should be congratulated for putting their hands up when, let’s be rational here, Dr Honey will romp it in by anyone’s measure come next Saturday.
Maybe a few more voters take the other candidates’ attitudes and put a kink in the winner’s armour that won’t be forgotten.
You can only hope.
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