Party of community independents to contest ACT election after being inspired by Senator David Pocock's success

Clare Carnell with Thomas Emerson want to find and support independent candidates in the upcoming ACT election.  (Supplied)

A party of community independents will contest this year’s ACT election under the direction of Canberra barrister Clare Carnell — the daughter of former ACT chief minister Kate Carnell.

Ms Carnell — who is also a lecturer in law at the Australian National University — has joined forces with Thomas Emerson who is currently an adviser for Senator David Pocock, to establish Independents for Canberra.

The group is hoping to replicate the success of independent Senator Pocock at the last federal election.

Until recently, Ms Carnell was a member of the Liberal Party.

She will not nominate as a candidate in the election but will instead focus on “finding and coordinating dynamic candidates and campaigns”.

“We want candidates who have never considered entering politics,” she said in a statement.

“We want fresh perspectives, not career politicians.

“There are talented people all across the ACT who see Canberra’s potential and would make fantastic MLAs.

“It’s time to bring them together and get them elected.”

Ms Carnell said the current government was failing the territory and a “new and viable alternative” was needed.

“It’s time for change — and having heard that so often for so long, we’re launching Independents for Canberra to achieve that,” she said.

Senator Pocock’s adviser to contest October election

Mr Emerson — the son of former federal Labor minister Craig Emerson — is running as a candidate in the electorate of Kurrajong.

He said he believed the time was ripe for a shake-up given the Labor-Greens government had been in power for 22 years.

“[Labor] has stopped listening to Canberrans,” he said.

“People across the city from all different backgrounds and beliefs feel unheard, ignored, forgotten — even disrespected — by this government.”

Mr Emerson said the Greens were no longer able to offer a dissenting voice since forming government and the Canberra Liberals were not a “viable alternative” due to internal division.

Currently, he said he did not have any policy positions but would be developing some in the coming months through “genuine consultation with our community”.

“We’re focused on putting principles ahead of policy,” Mr Emerson said.

“Some of the frustrations we’ve heard are around policy being developed behind closed doors.

“We’re focusing on ensuring every voice is heard [and] making decisions based on the needs of our communities, not vested interests.”

Mr Emerson would not say which party he would form government with should he hold the balance of power.

“If I’m elected, I’ll support a leader who’s ready to work constructively to deliver better results for our community,” he said.

The party is currently self-funded.

‘Hare-Clark system difficult for independents’ 

In a statement, Senator Pocock said Australians had shown they wanted independents who could represent their communities ahead of party interests.

“The Hare-Clark system makes it extremely difficult for independents to get elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly,” he said.

“I think more choice is a great thing for our democracy so I commend anyone willing to put their hand up to work hard to represent their community on the issues that matter to them.”

Only four independents have sat in the ACT Legislative Assembly since self-government in 1989 and no independent has been elected since 1998.

Two other independents, former chief executive of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia Peter Strong, and medical scientist and former diplomat Ann Bray, announced their candidacies earlier this month.

Fiona Carrick, who contested the 2020 election, stepped down from her role as Woden Valley Community Council president in order to begin assembling a group of independents in the electorate of Murrumbidgee.

She hasn’t confirmed yet if her name will be on the ballot paper.

The ACT election will be held in October.