‘Politics can be done differently’: Caulfield Independent Nomi Kaltmann

Losing faith in the two-party system prompted NOMI KALTMANN to stand as Caulfield’s first Teal Independent candidate.

For Nomi Kaltmann, the path to victory at the forthcoming Victorian state election is clear.

Finish no lower than second in the primary votes in the seat of Caulfield, and the flow of preferences from fellow progressive candidates should be enough to vault her into state parliament as the first non-conservative member for an electorate that has voted conservative since pretty much forever.

Kaltmann is one of just four Teal Independent candidates, backed by Simon Holmes a Court’s Climate 200 group, up for election at the November 26 poll. And she is entitled to feel optimistic about her chances. At the federal election earlier this year, fellow Teal Zoe Daniel toppled Tim Wilson to win Goldstein, polling particularly strongly in the northern fringes of the seat, which encompasses the Caulfield state electorate.

It was Daniel’s success that helped convince Kaltmann to run. She already has a full slate as a lawyer, freelance journalist (including on occasion for The Jewish Independent), a leading figure in the Orthodox women’s movement, and the mother of three young children.

“I thought it was really cool that there was an independent movement coming through and that more women were putting themselves up for election,” she said. “It was cool that there was this safe space (for male politicians) that was being destroyed as we watched it live.”

She was approached shortly after the federal election by the progressively oriented Voices for Caulfield to stand for election, but initially knocked it back because she was too busy.

“But they kept calling me. They said I was the right person for the seat – Jewish, female, Orthodox and familiar with the community - and that this was the opportunity to show my mettle, so I decided to go for it.”

Having made the commitment to run, she is now going her hardest. “I am a grassroots local candidate running for change. The campaign is about letting people know that there are alternatives outside the major parties and that politics can be done differently. It is exciting and I am enjoying the process.”

As the lead independent candidate, Kaltmann has both the Liberal and Labor parties in her sights. She shares the general belief among his opponents that 12-year sitting Liberal member David Southwick works hard and is “thoughtful and considerate” but wants Caulfield voters to consider his voting record, especially when it came to conscience votes over safe zones around abortion clinics and assisted dying. In both instances he sided with the conservative elements of the Liberal Party.

“People in Caulfield are progressive, and they support progressive policies, but there is nothing progressive about voting against these policies. So, no matter how nice his personality is, I ask the people of Caulfield to judge him on the metrics of his effectiveness in the parliament, which is lacking,” she said.

As for Labor, she contends that Premier Daniel Andrews has too large a majority in parliament that needs to be whittled away. “I think people only cottoned on to that during the pandemic when they found out how powerful a premier could be. What happens when a premier and a parliament has that large a majority? Any piece of legislation can be passed through.”

“The party structure that exists within the parliamentary system is inherently corrupt. You could be a wonderful MP, but you will have split loyalties. You will always be bound by the party and your loyalty will always be towards caucus.”

She holds up the recent federal Government decision on Jerusalem, announced on the Simchat Torah holiday, as a case in point, even if Israel itself, is barely an issue at state level.

“That’s the epitome of political parties, who from the top down, don’t consult with members or the community; they make a decision at short notice without discretion and without consideration for the practices of the community that will be most affected.”

Kaltmann is a former Labor Party member and says she was sounded out to run for the party both in 2018 and again this year. Her once steadfast belief in the two-party system has been shattered, and like close to a third of all Australians, she now skews independent.

“There was no credible alternative until the independent movement began. Cathy McGowan (who won the federal seat of Indi in 2013) is really the mother of this movement,” Kaltmann said.

Her policies follow the familiar independents’ trope of integrity, strong outlooks on climate change and gender equality and, in her case, gambling reform. Like the other Teal Independents, she will not be directing preferences on her how-to-vote-card.

On local issues, she agrees that a new Caulfield Hospital needs to be built (she lives near the existing dilapidated hospital and walks through the site regularly) but needs more information before offering any support for Mount Scopus College and other Jewish community facilities to be relocated to the site.

And given the paucity of public green space in Caulfield, she is open to proposals to free up the interior of Caulfield Racecourse but says information about funding options needs plenty more discussion.

But she is deliberately vague when it comes to policy detail. “Anything that is good for the local community I will adopt, and I will take into account the will of the people. I won’t reject a good policy if it’s from another party and I won’t support a policy if it doesn’t reflect the best interests of the people of Caulfield.”

Kaltmann’s campaign made the mainstream media last month amid claims that outspoken community activist Alex Fein had been stood down as her campaign manager. But she disputes this, saying that Fein was among those who helped convince her to stand but relinquished her role of campaign advisor because of a clash with her job with political strategy and advisory firm RedBridge.

Those looking for a point of difference between Kaltmann and the other candidates will point to her Orthodox beliefs. She will be visible on election day, but only as far as she can walk from home. Any media who want to interview her on election night are welcome do so … once Shabbat ends around 9pm.

She is bemused by the focus on her faith, especially when asked whether her Shabbat observance will hinder her ability to get out and about on Saturdays, traditionally the day of the week for local members to press the flesh and meet the locals.

“Politics is not a nine to five job and if we accept that, then one day a week is not going to make or break whether I can represent this community,” she countered.

“For Orthodox Jewish women I represent an amazing success story that they can have their faith, their career, their family and still have an ability to run for office,” she said.