“Let us hope that our Emerson and Carrick have Lambie’s guts and doggedness to bring light to places in our Canberra where those in power intend the darkness to hide their serious shortcomings.” HUGH SELBY writes in praise of the power of independent politicians.

Whether or not you agree with the actions of the political independents, be grateful that they actively consult with constituents, examine the evidence and pursue issues with a doggedness that is refreshing.

If you think this is gilding the lily then have a look at the webpages of, for example, senators David Pocock, Jacqui Lambie and, from the Lower House, teal Zoe Daniel.

Closer to home, local independent MLA Tom Emerson has called this week for the development and delivery of a co-ordinated ACT Food Relief Action Plan. His webpage, too, shows the breadth of the issues that he is pursuing.

And if you live in the Woden area and you want to take the kids for a nearby outdoor swim then Fiona Carrick is probably your only hope. Of course, it doesn’t matter if you are happy to replace outdoor fun in a 50-metre pool with an indoor, 25-metre one that will have those kids wanting to go home quickly.

Money matters

The major parties have small memberships (as reported by the Guardian Australia). So small that from time to time there are not enough to man the election-day booths.

Four years ago the numbers were Labor 60,000, Liberals between 50,000 and 60,000, and the Nationals in NSW at 6000. Yes, these numbers are four years old, but the parties are cagey. That’s hardly surprising. Under Menzies in the 1950s the Liberals recruited 197,000.

Despite their small and shrinking memberships, the big three have enviable funding sources. Hence, we should be grateful that a few of Australia’s richest were generous to the independent candidates before the last federal election. Be hopeful that they will do so again. Countering spin costs money.

In November 2022 the Guardian Australia reported that, “the six successful teal independent candidates [at the last federal election] were backed by $10.2m of political donations.

“The Australian Electoral Commission disclosures reveal Atlassian founder Scott Farquhar was the biggest donor to the Climate 200 funding body, giving $1.5m, followed by fellow co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes’ climate campaigning entity, Boundless Earth, which gave $1.18m”. 

I wondered if today’s stars of free enterprise would be revealed as philanthropic heavyweights, like (Microsoft founder) Gates Foundation which has an enviable record. 

I googled “Donald Trump philanthropy”. Oh my! Confirm your fears or admiration for persistent selfishness by going to theconversation.com story. 

To reconfirm those thoughts, see what the New York Times reported recently about that Musk fella’s foundation can’t even meet minimum requirements year after year. It’s too hard for Mr Musk to give away the 5 per cent required by law. The Midas of old would envy him.

In the search for role models let’s review the actions on one matter by that noisy, persistent, in-your-face Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie. You know her, don’t you? How many of the other 11 senators from Tasmania can you name?

The Eden Westbrook fiasco

Ten years ago a 15-year-old teenage girl Eden Westbook went out at night from her family home in St Helens in Tasmania. The following morning she was found dead, hanging from a tree in a public park that fronts on to the main road.

The investigation into her death, such as it was, was a good example of what not to do. “Suicide” was good enough, so the police, forensics, and the coronial system signed off on that quick smart.

The family, damn them, thought otherwise. They are sure she was murdered and inquiries have shown that possibility is not fanciful or remote.

The response of the police and legal system in Tasmania to this problem is to delay, to deny, to hinder, and to hide – at all of which they are experts.

Particularly damning has been the refusal of the Coroner’s Court to release the autopsy photos to an independent pathologist. That pathologist has aptly said that it beggars belief that they have not been released.

If those photos supported the official line then it’s commonsense that they would have been released.

Senator Lambie’s three speeches (February 4, November 19 and July 2) can be found in Hansard online. What she says is more than a little troubling: keeping the lid on it may not work much longer for the Tasmanian police, courts, and the government.

Why we need independents

An effective way to keep the lid on problems is for those likely to be exposed by adverse publicity to threaten defamation litigation.

The defence of truth is notoriously expensive to run: remember the Lehrmann v Network 10 proceedings in 2023 and 2024.

What our politicians say in parliament and what documents are tendered there provides the media, large and small, with the opportunity to report safely upon those matters. This is known as the qualified privilege defence.

Both in the ACT and in Tasmania the usual political “defence” to allegations is to ignore them. When something more is required the preferred route is to obfuscate. If that fails then attack the messenger. Given the speed of the news cycle (community interest rarely outlasts 24 hours) this is very effective.

Senator Lambie’s three-time attack on the mishandling of how and why Ms Westbrook died is a telling example of the need for dogged repetition. She won’t stop at three.

Recently, I called for an inquiry into our prison. As usual, nothing from the government, or the opposition, or the Greens. To say anything may bring accountability, perish that thought.

But, there has been a comment from a Corrections’ supporter. Here it is, unedited, from The Last Governor on social media: “This is the biggest load of theoretical rubbish, put forward by conspiratorial keyboard warriors who have obviously, (sic) never been inside a gaol in their lives”.

I am touched by the label of being a “keyboard warrior”. Who are my fellow conspirators? I am less touched that The Last Governor didn’t bother to check my experience with prisons. I hope that she/he didn’t govern a jail with such a disregard for fact checking.

Let us hope that our Emerson and Carrick have Lambie’s guts and doggedness to bring light to places in our Canberra where those in power intend the darkness to hide their serious shortcomings.

Hugh Selby, a former barrister, is the CityNews legal affairs commentator. His free podcasts on “Witness Essentials” and “Advocacy in court: preparation and performance” can be heard on the best known podcast sites.

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