Former Wallaby, David Pocock, has today become the ACT’s first ever independent Senator.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) this morning confirmed Mr Pocock had beaten former ACT Liberal Senator, Zed Seselja, taking the ACT’s second Senate seat alongside former ACT Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher.
The result means the Liberal party will not have an upper house member from the ACT for the first time since the introduction of Senate representation in 1975.
The former representative rugby player campaigned heavily on climate action issues.
“What we’re seeing with energy prices is the result of a decade or two of denial and delay and the politicisation of the transition to renewables,” the new Senator told local ABC Radio.
“We all know that this is the future. Fossil fuels have served us well but they are not the future, and so we have to ensure that we have an orderly transition that actually looks after everyday Australians.”
He also campaigned on territory rights to allow debate on voluntary assisted dying.
“It makes absolutely no sense that the ACT and the NT don’t have the same rights as people living in states when it comes to legislating on these issues,” he said.
Senator Pocock described his election as a “huge honour” saying he had been blown away by the support of Canberra people.
“There’s a push to do politics differently, and do it better, and have an independent voice for the ACT for the first time in federal parliament,” he said.
