Table of Contents
At a recent editorial team meeting of the Hawkesbury Gazette, a passionate discussion emerged about political engagement and the role of political parties in our local area sparked by one team member’s personal experience at a party meeting.
The team member, an active members of a major party, expressed disappointment that Hawkesbury specific issues such as infrastructure, land use, disaster response, or local healthcare were barely mentioned during the meeting, with most discussion instead focused on, as usual, who would represent the party at the next election.
This sparked a lively exchange among Gazette staff, revealing that our editorial team includes members or supporters from across the political spectrum including the Liberal, Labor, and Greens parties, as well as sympathisers of minor parties such as the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers, Small Business Party, and Sustainable Australia.
Recognising the diversity of views within our own newsroom, and the need for transparency and relevance in local political engagement, the Gazette asks all political parties active in the Hawkesbury region a simple but vital question:
“What do you or your party hope to achieve to improve the lives of people in the Hawkesbury?”
The goal is to provide readers with a non-partisan, side-by-side look at what each political group prioritises for our region not just at election time, but in their day-to-day advocacy and planning. We believe this kind of journalism helps voters better understand their choices, and holds parties accountable to the communities they seek to represent.
We invite parties or individuals who aspire to be our Councillors or Members of Parliament to outline their vision, policy priorities, and practical commitments from road upgrades and education access to bushfire preparedness, childcare services, tourism investment, flood mitigation, and support for business.
Send us your vision for the Hawkesbury, keep it legal, and we will publish it.
Editor@Hawkesburygazette.com
EXPLAINER
Understanding Political Parties: What They Are, Why They Matter, and Who Represents Hawkesbury
Politics can sometimes feel confusing or disconnected from everyday life — but political parties play a vital role in shaping the policies, laws, and services that affect us locally and nationally. Whether you're voting in a state election, attending a council meeting, or simply wanting your voice heard, understanding how political parties work is key to active citizenship.
What Are Political Parties?
A political party is a group of people who share similar values, beliefs, and policy goals. They work together to contest elections, form governments, and influence laws made by parliament. Members of a political party include everyday people, and elected representatives like Councillors and Members of Parliament (MPs).
What Do Political Parties Do?
Political parties serve several important functions in a democracy:
- Representing shared community interests and concerns and making policies to address them — like healthcare, jobs, climate, or farming — into policy platforms they present to the community at election time.
- Endorsing candidates: They select and support individuals who are members of their party to run for elections at all levels of government.
- Shaping public policy: Once elected, parties influence laws and budget priorities.
- Mobilising voters: Parties educate and energise the public to vote for their candidate and policies in elections.
- Providing accountability: Most important, by forming opposition or government, they help hold each other to account.
Why Might You Join a Political Party?
People choose to join political parties for many reasons:
- They want to be a politician and represent the people of Hawkesbury
- They want to develop policies they believe will solve problems and advance the lives of residents
- To influence decision-making at local, state or national levels.
- To network with like-minded people.
- To bring attention to local or regional issues — especially in under-represented communities.
Membership is usually open to any Australian citizen over 16 and typically involves a small annual fee.
What about independants?
Independants are people who stand for election who are not members of a political party. These people usually have deep roots in a community they can mobilise to act in the same manner as a political party and support them to get elected.
Final Thoughts
Political parties are more than just names on a ballot, they are pathways for ideas, action, and community change. In the Hawkesbury, party politics spans from Parliament to Council Chambers, shaping everything from floodplain management and infrastructure funding to rural education and land use.
By joining a political party, you can play a direct role in this process whether you want to advocate for farming communities, improve disaster response, protect the environment, or support small business. Being informed is the first step. Participating is the next. We are interested in your ideas for improving the lives of Hawkesbury residents.
