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New party could
form in Cessnock
Cessnock woman Jennifer Stefanac has
announced her intention to stand as a candidate for the Senate in
the upcoming Federal election, representing the newly-founded
Reconcile Australia Party.
The party has been formed by
Jennifer and Central Coast resident Ken Banning, with the aim to
re-focus Australia's political processes on to the issues that are
relevant for Indigenous Australians and the broader Australian
community.
Jennifer, who is of Aboriginal
descent, lives in Cessnock with her husband Warren and their three
teenage daughters. She was born in Wellington, NSW in 1969 and was
adopted out to an
Anglo-Saxon Australian family and
grew up in Sydney's western suburbs.
She tracked down her natural family
in the 1990s and has since been forging relationships with her
natural family and extended family, in an ongoing journey that has
been integral to finding her identity and cultural heritage.
Jennifer has worked in various
government departments over the past 10 years, as an administrative
assistant, customer service officer, project administrative officer.
Aboriginal education assistant and currently as a child protection
caseworker.
Throughout her career, and
particularly in her current role, Jennifer has seen how some people
struggle with certain legislations that are imposed on Aboriginal
communities. "The Reconcile Australia Party will give us a black
voice in Parliament, which I think is lacking, and examine
legislation with a black perspective," Jennifer said.
The party hopes to keep the issues
that are important to Indigenous families at the forefront of
political debate in Australia, while encouraging all Australians to
value their diversity.
"We are encouraging an Australia',
that values each other and our diversity, and change for the
better," Jennifer said.
In order to appear on the Senate
ballot paper, the political party needs to be registered with the
Australian Electoral Commission, and to do be registered, the party
must have at least 500 members.
Members are invited to leave their
comments and ideas on the party's web-site, and they are also needed
to hand out How to Vote material on the Election Day.
If you would like to become a member
of the Reconcile Australia Party. visit their website
www.reconcileaustralia-party.org, phone 0403 469 284, or write to PO
Box 359 Cessnock NSW 2325.
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