The “Canberra Bubble” loves to regularly cite the “Quiet Australians”, always with the implication that anything the Federal Government does is indeed both in the best interests of, and widely supported by, these allegedly inaudible patriots who so conveniently refuse to raise their voices. Well, thanks to Leonie Scarlett, Louise Hislop and the Ancient Egyptians’ invention of the dinner table, these enigmatic “Quiet Australians” are discovering their vocal cords via the Voices of Mackellar and its Kitchen Tables Conversations initiative.
Leonie, how did Voices of Mackellar start?
Louise and I have been friends since kindergarten at St Josephs, Narrabeen back in the early 70’s. In December 2019, I’d met Louise for a cuppa up at her mum’s on an afternoon when the sky was dark and the air choked with smoke from the awful bushfires burning the east coast. Driving home, it hit me. I knew Louise’s involvement in Voices of Warringah had seen real change in the way politics was done in the neighbouring northern beaches electorate. If we did the same in Mackellar it could help save Australia from more of these catastrophes, and so, Voices of Mackellar was born.
Louise, what inspired the Kitchen Tables Conversations (KTC)? How does it work?
I was disheartened with politics. My friends and I didn’t feel as if our politicians were acting on the issues we cared deeply about. In 2018, a few of us started Voices of Warringah. We met local residents around a table, with food and drink, and listened to their concerns. People loved the process and quickly became optimistic about the possibility of change. We gained rich insights into what really mattered to people. When it came time to find someone to represent us, a number of groups rose up and created movements. Zali Steggall answered the call. Now, the people of Warringah are represented by someone who answers to them, not to a political party. KTCs captured Leonie’s imagination, and I remember her asking, ‘Why doesn’t politics work like this?’
Leonie, how will you use the information collected from your KTCs?
Over six months, we’ve held 68 KTCs across 15 Mackellar postcodes, with 380 participants, and spent 1,000 hours listening to residents. In July, we released the Mackellar Matters Report based on information we collected from those KTCs. This is just the beginning. We will hold more events to share our findings, and we will canvass views from the candidates who stand for the next federal election. People made clear to us they feel taken for granted by their MPs. Voices of Mackellar wants to change that. The first time I voted, my mother told me something I’ve never forgotten: “People died so you could have the right to vote,” she said. We often talk about our “rights” but in a democratic society, we’ve got obligations, too. It’s never been more important for all of us to take our political and civic responsibilities seriously.
If there are Tawny readers with things to say, how can they get involved in the work you’re doing?
Register on our website at www.voicesofmackellar.org.au and keep up to date with our events and candidate forums. Join in to or host a Kitchen Table Conversation. Young Voices of Mackellar has just launched – email us at info@voicesofmackellar and get involved.
Editor’s Note: Louise was founding president of Voices of Warringah, Co-campaign manager of Zali Steggall’s 2019 campaign, and now candidate for Your Northern Beaches Independent team for the Curl Curl Ward in the council elections on 4 September.