Angela4Lyons

28/06/2025

Day 18 on the Campaign Trail

28/06/2025

Day 17 on the Campaign Trail

A cool and crisp wintry day at Longford.

Insightful conversation on budget concerns, desire for consultative, collaborative, transparent and accountable decision making by our elected representatives.

Consensus on the difficulty of attracting and retaining part time workers.

Affordable housing an issue.

Recognition that a Neighbourhood House 🏡 is needed in the Northern Midlands area.

Labor announced today a budget repair plan which includes a budget roundtable process which I heartily endorse- all information and ideas on the table and wide consultation about how we can address the burgeoning debt and deficit.

27/06/2025

Day 16 on the Campaign Trail

Democracy and our fabulous electoral system in action today with
the Announcement of Nominations and ballot paper column order draw ceremony for the 2025 House of Assembly elections for the Division of Lyons. Yay 🎉

In the division of Lyons there are 35 candidates / 7 to be elected / 89,460 electors enrolled.

I have drawn middle of the ballot paper in column designated “Group D”.
Unfortunately in Tasmania the word “independent” is not used on the HoA ballot paper although party names are.

27/06/2025

Days 14 and 15 of the Campaign

Spent printing!

The Treasury has released further figures on the budget outlook- reinforcing the priority issue this election which is much needed structural budget reform.

With only 4 days until the commencement of early voting neither major party has presented their plan for evidence based structural budget reform.
It is unlikely we will hear it either as both would deem any announced changes as politically unpopular.

24/06/2025

Days 12 and 13 of the Campaign

A wintry wild and woolly day on the way to work in veterinary practice.

Early voting starts in less than 7 days time and yet we will only be halfway into a 6 week election campaign.

The reason we are having an early election is because we need budget reform and yet neither major party so far has articulated what that reform might look like.

I am campaigning on and advocating for real outcomes on issues identified by the community and that I have been researching:

* Budget reform

* Health system reform

* Education system reform

* Housing reform

* Integrity reform

in addition to priority issues I have identified specific to specific areas in Lyons which is a vast electorate in terms of size and very diverse demographically.

As an independent not aligned or influenced by party ideology, politics or vested interests I promise to:

* Listen to you 🙂

* Work for you

* Be accountable to you

22/06/2025

Day 11 on the Campaign Trail

Evandale Market stall today and much discussion around debt, deficit and lack of budget reform ideas from either major party with only 1 week to go until early voting!

Straw polling today not in favour of the stadium in light of the parlous state of Tasmania’s finances and concerns around health, education and housing which are the priority and fundamental services state government is tasked to provide alongside responsible fiscal management.

A note about the stadium evaluation of which is continuing through the Project of State Significance process can only be stopped by an act of Parliament.
The Tasmanian Planning Commissionion (TPC) panel will hold hearings over the next couple of weeks and will provide Parliament with a final report by 17 Sept 2025.
A final decision on the stadium proposal will be made by each chamber of the Tasmanian Parliament.
The TPC final report will be an independent expert assessment that will be crucial for MPs to consider in making a responsible decision on the stadium proposal.

Fellow Lyons candidates popping up everywhere!

21/06/2025

Day 10 on the Campaign Trail

Lots of fun letterboxing Prospect Vale today and bumped into fellow candidate for Lyons, Casey Farrell.

Prospect Vale is a southern suburb of Launceston situated within the boundary of the Meander Valley Council area.

ABS Census statistics 2021 Population 5,433, median age 48, 2,536 private dwellings.
Hospitals top response industry of employment.

Arthritis top long term health condition followed by mental health.
Similar health statistics for all other areas of Lyons a potent reminder that Tasmanian has an aging population and unhealthy population such that preventative health measures play an important and integral part in healthcare and alleviating the burden on Tasmania’s healthcare system.

Healthcare, housing, education, budget reform and integrity in politics all priority issues in this state election.

21/06/2025

Can you host one of my hand-painted (re-puposed) corflutes?

You can participate in a campaign to grow and turn Lyons Independent. Together we can change politics for the better.

Please contact me : [email protected]
https://angelaofford.com.au/volunteer/

20/06/2025

Day 9 on the Campaign Trail

FAQ

Q What is your vision?

A My vision is for all elected members robustly debating ideas and yet working collaboratively together coming to consensus to achieve the best policy outcomes for all Tasmanians and all of Tasmania.

Given Tasmania’s poor budget and systemic problems in our health and education systems bold, politically brave reform agendas are needed.
We cant keep spending the way we are with declining heath and education outcomes- it is unsustainable.

We need to look at tax reform and for Saul Eslake to complete his report into government owned enterprises. The stadium needs to continue through the proper POSS process so that all available information is on the table and all points of view put forward and understood.

Only then can we consider all of the available Information and evidence and come to consensus on the path forward with robust policy development and long term planning.

Please join my campaign here
https://angelaofford.com.au/get-involved/

19/06/2025

Day 8 on the Campaign Trail

Yay 🎉 🎈

Passionate about our system of representative democracy in Australia and our electoral system and processes.
My nomination for election as a member of the House of Assembly for the electoral division of Lyons has been accepted!

Name will appear on the ballot
paper as follows:

OFFORD Angela

A draw for column positions and candidate names for the first rotation of ballot papers will take place 12:00pm on Friday 27 June 2025.
Can’t wait!

Meeting and listening to the lovely people of Sorell today.
Healthcare top of mind for some with ambulance ramping a concern and inability to attract health and allied professionals to the rapidly growing area to work.
A lively discussion had around the stadium.

With this snap early election called and only 4 weeks to polling day we have an opportunity to vote for change.

An election is a choice and the choice is ours to make.
I see the choice being between the same parliament same problems and the opportunity for a bigger, more diverse cross bench with more ideas and a willingness to work collaboratively which is what we expect and want to see from our elected representatives.

My vision is for all elected members robustly debating ideas and yet working collaboratively together coming to consensus to achieve the best policy outcomes for all Tasmanians and all of Tasmania.

Given Tasmania’s poor budget and systemic problems in our health and education systems bold, politically brave reform agendas are needed.
We cant keep spending the way we are with declining heath and education outcomes- it is unsustainable.

We need to look at tax reform and for Saul Eslake to complete his report into government owned enterprises. The stadium needs to continue through the proper POSS process so that all available information is on the table and all points of view considered.
Only then can we consider all views and come to consensus on the path forward with robust policy development and long term planning.

18/06/2025

Day 7 on the Campaign Trail

6pm Wednesday 18th June

Issue of the writs, close of enrolment, and candidate nominations open

This means that from tomorrow prospective candidates (no one is official yet) can lodge their nomination form paperwork and deposit.

On Thursday 26th June at 12 noon candidate nominations close.

Then on Friday 27th June candidates are officially announced and the order that they will appear on the ballot paper drawn. As soon as this happens the PRINT button is pressed so that ballot papers are ready for the commencement of early voting on Monday 30th June.

Find out how preferences are allocated in Tasmanian elections. UPDATE: new legislation now requires electors to choose at least SEVEN candidates to make their vote…

18/06/2025

Day 5 and 6 of the Campaign Trail

Tasmania’s 4th election in 7 years with the state in record debt and deficit and little proffered by either major party so far in the way so far of budget reform, long term vision and program and policy solutions.

Same old, same old.

Let’s seize the opportunity to elect a genuine brave and fresh parliament that puts people and place first before party and politics.
That is prepared to make the bold decisions necessary to take Tasmania forward.

The job of any elected member in our system of participatory, representative democracy (government by the people for the people) is to:

1. Listen to the community

2. Work for the community

3. Be accountable to the community

To work together to solve problems that face Tasmanians and Tasmania.

This election if we want to see change we need to vote for change.

Every vote counts.

Your vote counts.

I promise to listen to a wide range of views and geuninely represent the people of Lyons.
My priorities are systemic reform in Tasmania’s health, education systems and budget sustainability.
I value robust development of long term policy on big issues that can take Tasmania forward.

I have spent two years when not working in veterinary practice visiting and researching where we live and how we live in different parts of the very diverse geographic and demographic electorate of Lyons in order to identify local issues of concern.*

I will not be influencd by party ideology, party politics, vested interests or preformed views.

News this week that the new code of conduct for Tasmanian members of parliament, developed by the underesourced Integrity Commission with the aim of improving transparency and accountability, has been abandoned a couple of weeks out from the election.

* Lyons is the largest electorate in Tasmania covering 35 000 sq km extending from Railton, Sheffield and the Great Western Tiers in the NW, south through the Central Highlands to the Derwent Valley, New Norfolk, east to Sorell the southern beaches and Bays of the Tasman Peninsula and north up the East Coast to Eddystone Point in the spectacular Bay of Fires.
The northern suburbs of Hobart, Bridgewater and Gagebrook and the southern suburbs of Launceston, Prospect Vale and Blackstone Heights are in Lyons.