Kagiso Ratlhagane came to Australia as a refugee at just two years old.
Born in South Africa, the Canberra-based hip-hop artist’s life was influenced by politics early on.
“My dad was very heavily political and involved in the struggle. So he was fleeing for his life and he kind of involved my mum in that whole scenario,” he said.
His father returned to South Africa to help Nelson Mandela rebuild following the apartheid, leaving Kagiso and his mother behind.
When I was young, was really angry - as you do as a child - like your father’s abandoned you.
“It wasn’t until I got a lot older and into my adult life that I reconnected with him and heard his version of what happened…I kind of grew to love and respect him, and understand his decision more.”
He’s now making waves in the Australian music scene under the moniker ‘KG’.
But by inheriting his father’s sense of justice, Kagiso is eager to influence politics in Australia.
His initial focus is on treatment of refugees, and the conversations our politicians are having about - and to - them.
“I get very upset,” he told The Feed.
Source: The Feed
At the 2019 federal election, he’s running in the Canberra seat of Fenner for the Australian Progressives. He joined the party at the start of this year.
“Because the Australian Progressives are fairly new, and I’m a fairly new candidate, I felt like I could have a larger voice,” he said.
Kasigo says young people - particularly people of colour - feel disengaged by the current political system.
“We need to see more people of colour representing parliament, getting involved on higher levels, and being there when policies are created, rather than being affected by policies all the time.”
Minor Parties
There are more than 50 minor parties vying for a seat in the Senate and House of Representatives in the 2019 Federal Election.
The Feed has met with several of them on the campaign trail, to find out what they’re really campaigning for - and how they plan to steal votes from the major parties.
Whether it’s green energy, traditional family values or veganism - each of these minor parties say there’s something missing in the current political system.
Australian Progressives
The Australian Progressives are promising to clamp down on corruption in politics, push for 100% renewable energy and advocate for economic and gender equality.
They promote their policies as being “evidence-based”, rather than major party aligned.
“The Australian Progressives are about not chucking away things just because they are Labor or Liberal,” Kagiso Ratlhagane said.
“We’re kind of in the middle, where we do believe in big business, we do believe that it serves a massive purpose for Australia, but at the same time, we really want to look after the little guy.”
Christian Democratic Party
Lead senate candidate for the Christian Democratic Party Silvana Nile is hoping her persistence pays off at this election. She’s run in eight state and federal elections before with no success.
Headed by Silvana’s husband Fred Nile, The Christian Democratic Party takes a conservative position on most social issues.
"When we have to choose between the mother and the child the mother’s life will definitely be chosen over that of the babies,” Silvana Nile said.
Source: The Feed
“What I’m campaigning on in this election is zero tolerance for domestic violence, zero tolerance for child pornography, and definitely one law for all Australians, no Sharia law and no Sharia courts.”
While the party promotes sustainable use of the environment, it’s calling for more research into Climate Change.
“We don’t feel convinced by the research that has been done up to date... It’s very important that we do further inquiries to see that what we actually put into practise in our policies is actually benefiting the environment,” Ms Nile said.
Animal Justice Party
The Animal Justice Party is fielding an eclectic mix of candidates this election, including a former-butcher-turned-vegan who is running in the Victorian seat Flinders.
In Queensland, its senate candidate Karagh-Mae Kelly, a ‘Doggy Day-care’ owner and former investigator for the RSPCA.
“The animal justice party exists for a better world for every species,” Karagh-Mae Kelly said.
Source: The Feed
One thing all AJP candidates have in common is they must be vegan or transitioning to veganism.
The party’s calling for a complete ban on live exports, and for the role of the animal agriculture industry in Climate Change to be acknowledged by politicians.
They’re also pushing for mandatory taxes and health warnings on some processed meats.
