By Mik Aidt

The unprecedented uncertainty of the outcome of the election in Victoria on 28 November offers an special opportunity for the Community Independents movement. In fact, the Victorian state election matters for all Australians because the result will influence how parties across the nation respond to the weakening of the two-party system – and whether communities gain a stronger voice in what follows.

ABC elections analyst Casey Briggs describes an electorate “split almost evenly four ways between Labor, the Coalition, One Nation, and everyone else”. In a subsequent ABC interview, Liberal leader Jess Wilson avoided saying whether she would accept One Nation support to form government.

Community independents offer a practical way to give people more control over how they are represented. At Voices of Corio, we call for leadership that puts people, place, and future generations first. We have been out and about listening to our local community, and we've heard what matters to the people of Corio: the top four issues are energy and food security, cost of living, health and aged care, and housing affordability. People want a candidate who has integrity, who has the guts to go in to bat for us on these issues, and who is genuinely connected to our community.

Underpinning that we advocate for stronger climate safety policies, integrity and gender equality in politics.

Those principles belong in every parliament, including Victoria’s. They also belong in conversations about the rent, the electricity bill, the bus that never comes and the difficulty of getting timely healthcare.

Our case for better representation begins with the everyday pressures people face, and with the belief that communities should help shape the decisions affecting their lives.

What this means

Voices of Corio’s work centres on finding and supporting a community-nominated independent for the federal electorate. November’s election chooses our state representatives. We can bring the same expectations of listening and accountability to this election while continuing to build our federal movement.

Climate safety means making decisions consistent with the science and taking responsibility for their consequences. In Victoria, that means cleaner energy, better public transport, protection for nature and communities prepared for worsening climate risks.

The transition must also help households under pressure and give workers a credible future.

A home that stays cooler during a heatwave, affordable access to cleaner energy and a reliable bus service are practical concerns. Climate policy needs to demonstrate how it improves daily life, particularly for people who cannot afford the upfront costs of changing their homes or transport.

Integrity means being able to see who influences decisions and how public money is spent. Candidates should welcome scrutiny of their donors, interests and promises. We should expect independent oversight and clear explanations when governments make major planning, infrastructure and energy decisions.

Gender equality means safety, equal opportunity and respect. It belongs in decisions about workplaces, healthcare and services responding to family violence. It should be visible in what representatives do, how they behave and whose voices they make room for.

Cooperation and practical work

The primary vision for our Voices-group is to set out a community process: open discussion, residents identifying priorities and a candidate accountable to those priorities.

An independent label alone guarantees none of this. Any candidate seeking our support must demonstrate genuine community backing, disclose their funding and explain how residents will hold them accountable after election day.

We will be using the coming weeks to build public understanding of the choices available and strengthen people’s ability to influence them.

That is practical work.

Here are five areas of action which any activist or advocate in the Community Independents movement could consider in the coming weeks: