Crossbench doesn’t hold balance of power but we do have impact

As independents line up for Caulfield in the upcoming Victorian election, federal Member for Goldstein ZOE DANIEL reflects on what it means to be an independent MP.

Few tasks are more prosaic than putting out the bins, but a few days ago I was doing just that when a group of primary schoolgirls passed by on their scooters.

“Hi Zoe, how are you?” one called out, “how’s running the country?”

I laughed. 

As the independent Member for Goldstein, I am not "running the country", however, the political engagement of young people that became evident during the election campaign, remains a motivating factor as I work on the priorities that the community elected me to deliver.

School visits, demonstrating the curiosity and interest of pupils in our political system, are energising as are the roundtables and representations from the diverse groups that make up Goldstein.

Since May 21, I have been balancing my time in Canberra, where the policies get made and the legislation gets written, with constituent meetings, community events and visits. A forum held by Zionism Victoria and the Jewish Community Council of Victoria at the Beth Weizmann Jewish Community Centre was one such highlight.

Important as parliament is, community matters most, and as a community independent direct engagement is my highest priority.

Australians may have elected the largest crossbench to the House of Representatives since Federation, but collectively we do not have the balance of power. This means working strategically and collaboratively to get things done has had implications for the way I work with other members of the crossbench and the Government and Opposition.