Right across Australia, change seems to be in the air. We have had the “voices of” movement and numerous independents indicating they will be running as candidates in the next federal election, most likely in May 2020. There also seems to be an increased interest in minor parties, with many running candidates as well. There definitely is a movement for change, and it might just be strong enough to change the face of Australian politics forever. It is an exciting time in Australian politics.
One of these parties is TNL (The New Liberals). TNL was formed about two years ago as a real liberal party – one that is socially progressive and forward-thinking according to the dictionary definition of the word liberal. We are running 12 candidates for the House of Reps in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and Senate candidates in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
All these candidates subscribe to our charter of core values. These are eleven principles that are front and centre of everything we do and fixed for all to see on our website. We expect our voters to hold us accountable based on these eleven fixed core principles. One of these core values, is to foster equality, dignity, and respect for all, through the guarantee of fundamental human rights and safety nets.
My name is Chris Schmidt and I am TNL’s candidate for the seat of Sturt. This desire to foster dignity, equality, and respect for all can be listed as the major reasons I joined TNL back in February 2020. I come from a sales/marketing background and have run my own marketing business. I have also been a refugee and human rights activist for around ten years now. Since 2019, I was caring for my mother, as well as assisting with the care of my sister who was terminally ill with cancer.
When the LNP won the 2019 election, I became convinced that I had no option but to run for Federal Parliament. I felt like all the work of refugee advocates nationally – which I was a part of – was falling on deaf ears. Real permanent change was not happening and thus I saw the need to take the fight to parliament by getting better and more progressive candidates into office. To me, it was reaching the stage where the land of the “fair go” no longer existed. Poverty was increasing and the gap between the rich and the poor was growing wider. We will never have equality in the sense that everyone will earn the same – but where there is increasing wealth inequality and poverty, the economy, and the social cohesion of the country suffers.
I decided to run in the 2022 election, where I will bring my passion for justice, equality and fair play to Sturt. The Sturt electorate is mainly concerned with health, transport, the environment and corruption. At TNL, we have the best ICAC policy around…
…a 2030 net zero Greenhouse gas emissions target, free cradle to the grave health care and an emphasis on developing public transport in conjunction with the state governments.
One of our innovative policies will also have a huge impact, not only on Sturt but on the whole of Adelaide. Our electric vehicle policy. Adelaide was for many years with the Holden factory, a centre for auto manufacturing in Australia. We aim to restart this, first by value adding to our large reserves of lithium by making batteries and other vehicle components that utilise our natural resources but also by recommencing car manufacturing in Adelaide through the manufacture of electric vehicles.
Please feel free to contact me (below) to discuss how we plan to do this
Sturt is a conservative safe Liberal Seat, with an income above the Adelaide average and an older population. It will be a tough job to take over from James Stevens, our local LNP member, despite many electors calling him the “invisible man” because he is rarely seen in his electorate.
Sturt was created for the 1949 election and has mostly been held by the Liberal Party. Indeed, except for two terms of the ALP, the seat was held by the same family from its creation until 1993. Labor doesn’t even try to win Sturt anymore.
To defeat James in such a seat will take a considerable chest of money. As I’m not part of the Liberal born to rule class, I will need help. As such, I am running a Chuffed fundraiser. Even $2 can make a difference!
If this article sparks your interest, I am having a live Q & A on my YouTube channel at 2.30 PM Adelaide time next Saturday 29th December. Anyone is welcome but particularly if you’re from the Sturt electorate. Ask me anything you want about me, my campaign and TNL. Nothing is off the table.
Feel free to get in touch with me via:
Email: chrisschmidt@thenewliberals.net.au
Twitter: @cpschmidt29
Phone: 0459 573 941
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.schmidt.for.sturt/
It is time for change. My fervent wish is that this federal election will be the start of a new Australia that is fair, celebrates its diversity and leads the world in protecting our environment.
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