Tranter aims for Senate position
Image: WikiLeaks Senate candidate, Kellie Tranter
When entering the polling booth for the upcoming Federal Election, voters will be confronted with a ballot paper so big the Australian Electoral Commission will supply sheet magnifiers to navigate the 1.02-metre ballot paper.
One of the 44 candidates standing for the NSW Senate will be Kellie Tranter, a commercial/litigation lawyer and political activist representing the WikiLeaks party. The 38-year-old will vie for one of the six Senate positions for NSW, and fork out $2,000 for the privilege.
The first thing Ms Tranter wants voters to know is the importance of the distinction between WikiLeaks and WikiLeaks the party. Nonetheless, Ms Tranter said she “strongly supports the works of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks because of its exposure of war crimes, government corruption, secrecy and duplicit”.
Ms Tranter initially became involved with the WikiLeaks party because “its values coincided with her own”.
“Over time I have become increasingly concerned with the public cynicism about the party political system, government departments cloaked in secrecy and the inability of people to participate in political decisions in any meaningful way,” said Ms Tranter.
“Our government doesn’t give people accurate information, it is incapable of having Australia stand in the world as an independent nation and its politics often don’t reflect public opinion.”
On the subject of Julian Assange, Ms Tranter said she admires him for his convictions.
“Julian Assange and WikiLeaks – few in number as they may be – challenged power not because it was profitable, or expedient, but because it was the right thing to do,” she said. “Standing firm to your ideals and convictions and not being intimidated by power takes courage and courage is a quality I admire greatly.”
Ms Tranter said voters can expect a party that believes “truthful, accurate, factual information is the foundation of democracy and is essential to the protection of human rights and freedoms.”
“Where the truth is suppressed or distorted, corruption and injustice flourish,” she said. “Our aim is to apply those beliefs to all aspects of government.”
The WikiLeaks party has set its sights on having a candidate elected in the Senate for the first time, promoting transparency and accountability through parliament.
“All senators must know their rights,” she said. “We will be in a position to facilitate accountability through the exposure of information acquired by our active involvement with Senate Committees, questions on notice and support of whistle-blowers.
“We will not be asking ‘Dorothy Dix’ questions. The Senate is the House of Review and we must make sure that neither political party has absolute power and we must defend the parliament against the executive.”
By Christopher Conway
