Name: Ash Rose
Age: 34
Electorate: NSW Senate candidate
Political affiliation: Australian Progressives
Why are you running?
I am running because at the moment there is no political party that uncompromisingly asserts the views, aspirations, wants and needs of the first peoles of Australia and there cannot be if we are tied down to political machines that couldn't give a damn about us.
Rather, the majors espouse the views of the vested interests that fund them.
I am running to ensure our voice is heard and to get more of our people involved in the political discourse.
What do you want to achieve?
In terms of policy I'd like to achieve the below:
Treaty: Work with the First Peoples of Australia to create treaty and get it signed into law.
Closing the Gap: Review frameworks to improve progress in achieving Closing the Gap goals.
Funding: Commit to 10 year long-term funding for all programs and reverse all funding cuts made over the last 6 years.
Empowering local communities: Provide all resources and training necessary to empower communities to run government programs and services themselves.
First Peoples Lore/Law: Empower local communities to introduce and enforce traditional Lore/Law, where appropriate.
Is your Aboriginality important in deciding what policies you want to pursue?
Yes, in terms of ensuring the above positions. I'll pursue them with all I've got to give. However I am also passionate about ending poverty, fighting for social and economic equity.
Treaty, Sovereignty or Recognition?
A Treaty(s) is the true path to our empowerment.
A treaty by its very nature will grant us our sovereignty (a treaty being a negotiated outcome between sovereign nations) and it will also state the various sovereign nations involved.
When talking about recognition, if you want a written version of Rudd's sorry speech then sure: it was great, don't get me wrong - hugely symbolic and tokenistic. But what was the outcome?
A treaty will unite us, empower us, give us our sovereignty, what better recognition can you get?
It’s July 3, the day after the election, and you have been elected, what is the first thing that you want to get a move on?
I'll be going to communities across Australia whether I win or not, to unite us in the fight for a treaty and empowerment.
