The Canberra Times has inside word that former GetUp! extractor of funds from the trusting Simon Sheikh is going to be the Greens’ Senate candidate at the next Federal election.
The Australian Greens have pre-selected former GetUp! director Simon Sheikh as their ACT Senate candidate.
Greens leader Christine Milne was about to officially announce Mr Sheikh’s candidacy, but Fairfax Media understands the high-profile lobbyist won the three-way contest with an overwhelming majority.
The man who’s been here a few months but thinks he knows Canberra will be an interesting match against the rusted on Liberal Senator Gary Humphries.
UPDATE 06/12/12 11:59 The Greens have now put out their media release:
Former GetUp National Director Simon Sheikh has been selected to run for the Senate, promising to expand on his previous work by fighting hard for the issues affecting Canberra’s communities.
“As a former public servant and a campaigner for the community, I’ve spent my whole life standing up for communities against vested interests in big companies and big political parties,” said Sheikh.
“Despite hosting our nation’s politicians, the Canberra community isn’t heard loudly enough in federal Parliament but I believe that can change,” he said.
ACT Greens Convenor Clare Quinn stressed that Gary Humphries’ Senate seat was winnable for the Greens. “We live in the most marginal Senate seat in the country,” said Ms Quinn.
“If only 1500 people change their vote at the next election, we can stop the threat of Tony Abbott controlling both houses of Parliament and the devastating jobs cuts that would entail. Canberra voters are some of the most powerful in the country”, she continued.
Ms Quinn advised ACT Greens members about preselection results today. She congratulated Julie Melrose as the candidate for Canberra, Adam Verwey for Fraser and Indra Esguerra as the Greens’ support candidate for the Senate.
UPDATE 06/12/12 14:26: Senator Humphries appears to be relishing every opportunity to highlight Simon’s lack of ties to the Canberra Community.
