Independent candidate Munganbana Norman Miller says he can be the “gamechanger” he believes is needed to improve representation across the 150,000 square kilometre Leichhardt electorate. Photo: Supplied.
A Cairns pastor, artist and business owner says he can be the “gamechanger” he believes is desperately needed for Leichhardt residents to be properly represented in Canberra.
Bar-Barrum and Wadjanbarra Yidinji man Munganbana Norman Miller is the first independent candidate to officially throw their hat into the ring in the battle for the Far North Queensland electorate and said he would campaign on a 10-priority platform designed to “govern for all Aussies”.
“My promise is to govern for all Aussies and I will work for you, the people of Leichhardt,” he told Cape York Weekly.
“I stand for integrity and accountability, and will bring a fresh approach.
“People can’t afford their mortgages or even put food on the table; the cost of rents and petrol has skyrocketed [and] businesses are going bankrupt because the cost of doing business has increased with the cost-of-living crisis.
“We cannot go on like this as a nation.”
Mr Miller said his 10 priorities were to fix the cost of living crisis, better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, anti-Semitism and social cohesion, small business and the economy, education, housing and homelessness, heath, reliable and affordable energy, crime and national security, and a sustainable migration program.
While he could not specify what his Cape York and Torres Strait campaign footprint would look like in the lead-up to the federal election, Mr Miller said he was committed to remaining engaged with constituents.
“It is a very large and diverse electorate, which will have its challenges to representation, but I am determined to travel regularly in the electorate, and meet with key organisations in their communities and when they visit Cairns.
“I will be available to attend meetings of key stakeholders and attend to concerns raised quickly.
“We are at a crossroads in our nation – we need a gamechanger; I can bring the change you are looking for; this government is stale and is struggling for relevance [and] at the last minute before the election, it is throwing money around, increasing inflation and making promises it probably won’t keep.”
In addition to making an undertaking to reduce federal red tape within the region’s tourism, mining, fishing, agricultural and small business sectors, Mr Miller said he was also committed to ensuring infrastructure and services in remote Cape York and Torres Strait communities was improved.
“While there has been progress in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Leichhardt with local government and various enterprises, I will work to have better implementation of the Closing the Gap strategy, which includes greater decision making by First Nations communities focusing on co-design and culturally appropriate approaches,” he said.
“I will be working for more investment by government in infrastructure in communities, including housing, renal dialysis clinics and high-rise, cyclone-proof buildings on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities for use by residents during natural disasters.”
Mr Miller is the sixth candidate to announce they will appear on the Leichhardt ballot paper.
