Dear Visitor ji,
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is currently in the process of electing its leaders for a new term of office. This year’s elections have attracted a plethora of candidates from various multicultural communities. Election candidates are required to put in an immense amount of hard work, intense planning and support from their parties, friends and relatives. Although the pre-polling and polling is from 25 September till 17 October 2020, the work of a candidate begins months if not years earlier.
The Indian-Australian community has five candidates who will be trying to win seats in the 10th ACT Legislative Assembly: Mr Vijay Dubey, Mr Deepak-Raj Gupta MLA, Dr Krishna Nadimpalli OAM, Mr Amardeep Singh and Mr Jacob Vadakkedathu. For this special election edition of the FINACT newsletter, we contacted on 02 September 2020 all the five candidates to provide 200 words bio and a picture to share in the newsletter.
Challenges experienced while working with diverse community groups in FINACT have provided a great learning ground for developing leadership skills and working with the communities. Three of the five candidates are past Presidents of the Federation of Indian Associations of ACT Inc (FINACT): Mr Jacob Vadakkedathu (2011-12), Mr Amardeep Singh (2013-14, 2015-17) and Dr Krishna Nadimpalli OAM (2014-15, 2017-19).
Every citizen has a right to lobby for facilities, goods and services, and raise issues that need to be improved or introduced. I encourage you to discuss such issues with candidates in your electorate and what they will do for your constituency and community. Remember that your next opportunity to bring about necessary changes will come after four years.
I remind all, in particular members of the 29 member associations of the FINACT that this is your opportunity to exercise your right to choose the person or the party you believe can bring about your choices. You also have the right to allocate your preferences as they play a big role in determining the outcome of elections. Please choose wisely your number 1 vote and preferences.
On behalf of the 29 member associations and FINACT, we wish all the candidates best wishes in their endeavours.
Dr Sunita S Dhindsa
President
"The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”
– John F Kennedy
Elections for the ACT Legislative Assembly: 17 October 2020
To say the least, the forthcoming Legislative Assembly elections in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are going to be interesting.
With third Saturday of October stipulated for elections every four years (Electoral Act 1992), the tenth elections since self-governance (Australian Capital Territory (Self Government) Act 1988) will be held on 17 October 2020.
Since 2001, the incumbent Labour Party has been in power for 19 years and has formed government for five consecutive terms. After the 2016 elections, Labour formed a minority government with support from Greens (Labour 12 seats, Liberal 11 seats, Greens 2 seats).
ACT Legislative Assembly Electorates
 Canberra has an estimated population of over 450,000 (around 1.7% of the Australian population) and the people of Indian origin are estimated to be about 12,000 (around 2.8% of the ACT population). The Legislative Assembly is divided into five electorates and 25 seats, with five seats in each electorate. The electorates and constituent suburbs are:
- Brindabella – district of Tuggeranong(except part of the suburb of Kambah east of Drakeford Drive).
- Ginninderra – district of Belconnen(except the suburbs of Giralang and Kaleen).
- Kurrajong – districts of Canberra Central (excluding Deakin and Yarralumla), Jerrabomberra, Kowen and Majura.
- Murrumbidgee – districts of the Woden Valley, Weston Creek, Molonglo Valley, the South Canberrasuburbs of Deakin and Yarralumla and the western part of the Tuggeranong suburb of Kambah.
- Yerrabi – contains the districts of Gungahlin, Halland the Belconnen suburbs of Giralang and Kaleen.
All members of the 25-member Legislative Assembly have to stand in elections again to be re-elected following proportional representation of the Hare-Clark system.
The Indian Touch
This year the ACT elections have attracted five aspiring candidates of Indian origin to try their luck. They are proud Indian-Australians and educated professionals who have been working in the community for the last many years. Based on their member party policies, they are promoting measures that will make Canberra a better place.
|
Candidate
|
Electorate
|
Party
|
|
Mr Vijay Dubey
|
Ginninderra
|
The Belco Party
|
|
Mr Deepak-Raj Gupta
|
Yerrabi
|
The Australian Labour Party
|
|
Dr Krishna Nadimpalli OAM
|
Yerrabi
|
Canberra Liberals
|
|
Mr Amardeep Singh
|
Murrumbidgee
|
Canberra Liberals
|
|
Mr Jacob Vadakkedathu
|
Yerrabi
|
Canberra Liberals
|
Key dates to note are:
- Party registration closes: 10 September 2020
- Pre-election period commences and nominations open: 11 September 2020
- Rolls close: 18 September 2020 (8pm)
- Nominations close: 23 September 2020 (12pm)
- Nominations declared and ballot paper order determined: 24 September 2020
- Pre-poll voting commences: 28 September 2020
- Polling day: 17 October 2020
- Last day for receipt of postal votes: 23 October 2020
Brief history of the ACT elections from 1989
Since 2004, the term of Government has been fixed for four years. Prior to this, from 1989 -2004, the term of Government was three-years. In the 2016 elections, the number of members was increased from 17 (1989 – 2015) to 25.
The first elections for the 17-member ACT Legislative Assembly were held in Canberra on 4 March 1989 and the ACT formally started operating as a self-governing territory on 11 May 1989, coinciding with the first sitting of the Legislative Assembly. The first Chief Minister of the self-governing ACT was Ms Rosemary Follett, from the Australian Labour Party. Rosemary Follett was the first female head of a government in Australia.
Modified D’Hondt method was used for counting votes in the 1989 elections and since 1992 Hare-Clark proportional representation system has been used in the ACT elections.
Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Australian_Capital_Territory_general_election
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Australian_Capital_Territory
ACT Election: Candidates of Indian Origin
Vijay DUBEY: Your Candidate for Ginninderra
 Vijay Dubey is a candidate for Ginninderra in the 2020 ACT Election this October.
Vijay possess a master’s degree in education, experience in both state and federal government operations and is suitably skilled for community welfare. Vijay has dedicated his time and efforts, as a teacher, volunteer and small business owner within the Canberra community.
Vijay also used to run a small group called Help Canberra to help struggling families and old age people in need.
Vijay is worried about our future, skyrocketing cost of living and this greedy government. He has been involved for a long time, and is familiar with negative energy that pervades Canberra. Even more than that, Vijay knows what we need to do to change it because just as Vijay has have seen the tough times, he has seen the good times too. Vijay has seen how amazing our community members can be.
Vijay will focus on reducing the rates and fees and improve services. He has a Vision for a better and more prosperous Canberra.
Please share your ideas plans and feedbacks and Vijay looks forward to meeting you.
Don't expect to see a change, if you don't make one.
Deepak-Raj GUPTA MLA: Labour Candidate for Yerrabi
Deepak-Raj Gupta MLA is a Labour candidate for Yerrabi in the 2020 ACT Elections this October.
FINACT contacted Deepak-Raj Gupta and his office on several occasions (since 2 September 2020) for his bio-data for our newsletter. Unfortunately, we are unable to publish it as we didn't receive it.
Dr Krishna NADIMPALLI OAM: Liberal Candidate for Yerrabi
 Krishna Nadimpalli is living in Amaroo Gungahlin with his wife and two sons, and is a proud grandfather of cutest granddaughter.
Krishna’s vision for Canberra is to make it a vibrant city. He is committed to strengthening the economy, creating more jobs, reducing cost for families and businesses, improving education system for our children, reducing waiting time in hospitals, and improving public transport.
Krishna’s dedication is reflected in the many awards he has received including Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2019, the ACT Multicultural Advocate of the Year 2015 and the ACT Outstanding Volunteer of the Year 2017.
Krishna’s passion for ‘serving for empowerment’ is reflected through his contributions to parliamentary submissions; lobbying for building facilities and institutions; facilitating spiritual and linguistic education; mentoring youngsters; and supporting small businesses.
Krishna leads whether it is raising funds for farmers, organising blood donations, working for communities, lobbying for causes, or helping people.
Krishna is committed to Yerrabi to bring local employment to support businesses; improve community safety; and better health, community and sports facilities. He has seen Gungahlin grow and knows the issues. With his 30 years’ experience as an environmental scientist and passion for community, Krishna will bring a change.
Amardeep SINGH: Liberal Candidate for Murrumbidgee
 Amardeep Singh is a committed, hard-working and highly competent Canberran and a dearly loved family man who is passionate about giving back to the community.
Amardeep dreams of a Canberra where no one feels like a second-class citizen and everyone can pursue the highest standard of living.
Amardeep is a key part of the Canberra community as someone who is an executive member of the Canberra Interfaith Forum and always worked to promote interfaith harmony and dialogue. Amardeep also served as the President of the Federation of the Indian Associations of ACT Inc (FINACT) for three years and has played a vital role in providing spaces where we can all benefit from the strength that diversity brings.
Amardeep has been involved in various projects including providing voluntary relief services during the 2020 bushfires, advocating for the equal rights of women, and volunteering with Project Futures to help women who find themselves in distressing situations. He is a nature lover and has been involved in various environment conservation projects.
Apart from Amardeep’s passion for service, he is also a successful solutions consultant with over two decades of industry experience in providing trusted consultation to the Commonwealth Government and commercial agencies.
Jacob VADAKKEDATHU: Liberal Candidate for Yerrabi
As an Australian with a deep sense of value, Jacob Vadakkedathu is strongly motivated to stand as a Liberal Party candidate in the upcoming ACT election in the electorate of Yerrabi.
Arrived in Canberra in 1998 from India to complete an MBA degree, Jacob has now settled in the Gungahlin suburb of Nicholls with his wife and two kids. Jacob is actively involved in several social, cultural, community and charity organisations. Jacob was honoured to be elected as the inaugural President of the Federation of Indian Associations in ACT (FINACT).
Jacob stands for better quality of life for the people, where they have better infrastructure, better hospitals, and higher quality education accessible through better public and independent schools. He wishes people to have more opportunities, better choices, and more confidence in planning their future life.
Having worked at the Commonwealth Department of Finance for over 14 years, Jacob possess profound experience in the public policy areas. Jacob has runs on the board as a researcher, policy reformer and as a community worker to represent his constituents in the ACT Legislative Assembly. Jacob looks forward to serving the community by listening their concerns and supporting their needs.
Your input/event for FINACT newsletter is appreciated and welcome
Newsletter for communities
 You will appreciate that newsletters are critical instrument and platform to meet our functional, operational and strategic communication needs. We have been using this infrastructure for long to effectively interact with you.
Funding under the digital grants from the ACT Government has further boosted our capabilities and confidence in meeting our objectives. We thank the ACT Government for their generosity that enables us to extend our tools to our member associations. Please see below for more information on how you can use this feature.
As you know FINACT newsletter is generally published once a month. If our member associations like to publish their organisation's event in the FINACT newsletter, please provide the following information:
- Event name, date, time and venue followed by text
- Text in word format (not PDF)
- Text within 150 words
- One image/picture if needed.
If you have a flyer ready for the event then FINACT can also publish the flyer in the newsletter.
You can submit this information at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by the last week of month - marked as For FINACT Newsletter.
What else FINACT can do for you?
We acknowlege that not all associations can afford to have mailing lists or tools to regularly interact/communicate with their members. FINACT has tools and capacity to be of your assistance. You may subscribe your members on our subscription page.
|
