We, the undersigned, commit to boycotting the major parties in the upcoming ACT election and voting for independent candidates instead. We call on the people of the ACT to join us in supporting independent voices for real change.

It’s time to break the cycle of unfulfilled promises, entrenched interests, and lack of accountability. For too long, the major parties have dominated our political landscape, leading to complacency, neglect, and stagnation.

The 23 year-Labor Government has clearly failed us; and Liberals do not offer a viable alternative. The Greens have effectively become part of Labor, also playing a key role in the failures.

Yet, rather than acknowledging this, the major parties have been resorting to blatant fear tactics and misleading claims to convince voters that they only have two choices this election: Labor or Liberal. And that a vote for independents is a vote for Liberals. But that’s simply not true. An independent vote is just that – a vote for independents! 

This election, for the first time, voters have an unprecedented number of independent candidates to choose from—people with deep community ties, lived experience, and a genuine passion for delivering change. These independents aren’t career politicians—they are real grassroots leaders who have stepped up to put their communities first. They are offering meaningful solutions, not politics-as-usual.

You do have a choice. And if enough of us unite behind this movement, we can break the cycle and create a government that truly represents us.

We’ve already said yes, in the ACT, to other historic moments of change, from progressive reforms to the Voice to Parliament. Now, it’s time to say yes to a government made up of independent voices—people who are committed to transparency, accountability, and putting the community first.

Why Boycott the Major Parties?

• Broken Promises: The ACT's major parties have repeatedly promised change but have delivered very little. Whether it’s on housing, healthcare, education, or the environment, critical issues have been mishandled or left unaddressed.
• Entrenched Power: The same party has held power for decades (and the Chief Minister for a decade!), making them complacent and resistant to the kind of change needed to serve the community’s best interests.
• Fear Tactics: The major parties are using fear tactics to mislead voters into thinking that a vote for an independent is wasted or equivalent to voting for the opposition. They want voters to believe they only have two choices—Labor or Liberal—but that’s simply false. Independent voices are crucial for democracy, offering fresh perspectives and genuine accountability.
• Stifling Independent Voices: Major parties clearly don’t want independent voices in the Legislative Assembly because they don’t want to be held accountable. But voting for an independent is voting for someone who will represent your community without partisan strings attached.

Why Support Independent Candidates?

Independent candidates can break the status quo. They bring fresh ideas and genuine commitment to the issues that matter most to their communities. By voting for independents, we can:

• Enhance the contestability of ideas, leading to more robust debate and better policy outcomes
• Increase accountability and transparency in decision-making
• Ensure that representatives put their constituents first, not party lines
• Inject new perspectives into debates on policy issues
• Foster a healthier, more responsive democracy for all Canberrans

Let’s Create Real Change Together

Sign this petition if you believe it’s time to end the dominance of the major parties in ACT politics and support independent voices for a better future.

Boycotting the major parties in this election is a bold step toward real change. We believe that by supporting independent candidates, we can hold our leaders to account and drive positive, evidence-based policymaking in the ACT.

How to Boycott the Major Parties on Polling Day

On polling day, you can boycott the major parties by voting for all of your independent candidates in your order of choice.

After that, you can either stop voting or choose to vote for minor parties—just remember, do not vote for the Greens if you wish to boycott the majors, as they are effectively a major party due to their close alignment with Labor.

By doing this, your vote will remain with those who genuinely stand for accountability, transparency, and the interests of the community, rather than the entrenched interests of the major parties.

How to Learn About Independent Policies and Candidates?

The major parties want you to believe that independents don’t have policies—this is just another tactic in their fear campaign. In fact, independents have clear policies and plans for real change. To learn more about independent parties and their policies, visit the links below:

• Independents for Canberra: https://www.independentsforcanberra.com/policy 
• Fiona Carrick Independents: https://www.fionacarrick.com/policies
• Strong Independents: https://www.strongindependents.com.au/policies 

You can read about the candidates here:

• Independents for Canberra: https://www.independentsforcanberra.com/candidates
• Fiona Carrick Independents: https://www.fionacarrick.com/candidates
• Strong Independents: https://peterstrong.com.au/ and https://www.annbray.io/ 

You can also read candidate manifestos, for each of the independent candidates, on this ACT elections page: https://www.elections.act.gov.au/for-voters/candidates-2024/2024-candidates-and-statements 

Who started this petition?

I’m Dr Vanessa Picker, an Independent candidate in the 2024 ACT election, running in the Brindabella electorate with Independents for Canberra. As an independent, I don’t belong to a major party, which means I’m free to truly listen to and represent the people – not a party’s agenda. My independence allows me to take a firm stance on issues like this, and I believe that now is the time for bold, transformative change in the ACT.