FAQs

No. Voices of Cook is a non-partisan, grassroots community group, not a political party.

While political parties usually have a "top-down" structure—where leadership in Canberra decides on policies that local members must follow—we work from the bottom-up.

Here is how we differ from a political party:

• No "Party Line": We don’t have a set of rigid policies dictated by a central headquarters. Our focus is on listening to the people of Cook and ensuring their specific concerns are heard.

• Community-Led: Our goal is to improve the quality of representation and political integrity in our electorate, rather than winning power for a specific organization.

• Independence: We believe that our representative should be accountable to the community first, not to party bosses or big donors.

In short: We are a movement of locals who want to see our community's values reflected in Parliament. While we may choose to support an independent candidate who aligns with the community’s priorities, we remain an independent entity dedicated to local engagement.

To date, Voices of Cook has been a 100% grassroots effort. We have relied entirely on our convenors "passing the hat" and the incredible in-kind expertise of local volunteers who donate their professional time and skills to get us off the ground.

As our movement grows, so do our requirements. To effectively engage the community, sponsor local events, and maintain the digital and analytical infrastructure needed to support a potential independent candidate, we require financial resources.

We are now seeking donations from members of the public who support our mission. Every dollar stays local and goes directly toward ensuring our community has a seat at the table.

How to contribute: You can support our work on Support Us page.

Unlike a traditional political party, Voices of Cook doesn’t start with a pre-written platform from a head office. Instead of "party policies," we have Community Priorities—the issues that the people of Cook tell us matter most to them.

We identify these priorities through community-wide surveys and straw polls. This data-driven approach ensures that the platform we advocate for is built directly from the feedback of local residents.

Most independent candidates are "self-appointed"—they decide to run on their own personal platform.

A Community Independent is different because they are selected and endorsed by the community itself.

They don't just represent themselves; they represent the community. They are accountable to us, not a party or their own personal whim.

Unlike party members, a Community Independent is never "whipped" to vote a certain way. They have the freedom to:

• Vote on Merit: They evaluate every piece of legislation based on how it affects the people of Cook and whether it aligns with our community’s core values.

• Negotiate Directly: Without a party line to follow, they can negotiate with the government of the day to get better outcomes for our local area

In a parliament where no single party has a massive majority, independents often hold the "Balance of Power." This gives them significant leverage to:

• Improve Legislation: They can demand amendments to bills that would otherwise be ignored by the big parties.

• Ensure Accountability: They can push for higher standards of integrity and transparency that parties often try to avoid.

• Secure Local Funding: They can advocate for Cook’s specific needs (like infrastructure or environmental protection) as a condition of their support for broader government policies.