The Canning federal by-election was held on Saturday. Michelle Allen was a candidate for the Pirate Party of Australia in the elections. Receiving 0.89% of the votes it was a good first appearance by a pirate party candidate in this region.

“This election is an opportunity to show the major parties we are unhappy with the direction our nation is moving. Pirate Party Australia can offer those uninspired by the traditional political duopoly actual change. We know how to use the internet, we understand how technology works and will fight to ensure transparency in government, because our democracy is founded on the principle of an informed citizenry.” – Michelle Allen

To participate in the elections $1.000 nomination fee had to be paid. The Pirate Party of Australia (PPAU) made a crowdfunding campaign and managed to raise more than the necessary AUS$3.000 for the campaign budget with help of 56 supporters. The pirate party Councillor, Tom Randle, explained their fundraising: “Given our embrace of distributed participation, we’re able to run our election campaigns at a very low-cost while connecting our members from all over Australia to help Michelle’s campaign to be as successful as it can be.”

Michelle Allen campaign focused on digital rights and civil liberties, pushing back against web-site blocking, data retention and mass surveillance. Michelle also campaigned around marriage equality, copyright reform, internet censorship and privacy rights. You can also read the full political platform for PPAU.

This is the Pirate Party’s second run in a House of Representatives seat. Melanie Thomas achieved 1.5% and came 4th in a field of 11 candidates in the 2014 Griffith by-election. Pirate Party Australia also ran candidates for the Senate in a number of states in the 2013 Federal election, as well as in the 2014 WA special Senate election.

This election Michelle Allen place 7th in a field of 12 candidates with 0.89%. Achieving 738 votes shows a good support for the Pirate Party in their first election in Canning.

Australia has a rather unusual voting system. Not only is voting compulsory but they use a preference system which makes voting a time consuming undertaking.

Featured image: CC-BY, Pirate Party Australia

About Josef Ohlsson Collentine

I’m a dual citizen (American/Swede) and try to integrate my reflections from a more global perspective if possible. I’m the organizational leader for Pirate Times and work actively to strengthen the pirate movement through this work as well as being the international contact for Piratpartiet (PPSE). Elected board member of PPSE for 2015-2018.
If you would like to ask me something I speak English, Swedish and Spanish. Find me on the links below

 

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The Canning federal by-election was held on Saturday. Michelle Allen was a candidate for the Pirate Party of Australia in the elections. Receiving 0.89% of the votes it was a…