The Twin Town’s very own Gabrielle Chan made an appearance on the ABC’s Insiders just a fortnight ago, where the Rural and Regional Editor at the Guardian offered insight in to what has been happening in the regions during this Federal election campaign. Chan released ‘Rusted Off’ in 2018, a book predicting the rise of minor parties and independents in politics and her crystal ball proved to be true.
She spoke to the Times this week.
She was happy to be able to raise the profile of rural and regional issues which are often lost in the national political debate.
She said, “I was just happy that they were happy to talk about rural and regional which are the seats I look at.”
“There is a misunderstanding that there has to be this linear rise that has to happen in a straight line, but we can see in this election that the trend is up. Some people are sick of major party politics and how it is conducted. People are wising up to the idea that this system can only be run one way.”
Chan said, no one is saying that the major parties are dying but people are looking for other ways to find community representation and that is a good thing for democracy and it reinventing itself.
Chan often appears on television to offer her opinion.
She said, “They just ask me on from time to time and I guess they are trying to get a diverse range of voices and what I cover from my day job.”
“With the election on we just happen to focus on rural issues, health, education, communication. We have covered a lot on the inland rail project and mobile coverage, health services and teacher shortages, all of the staple of the regions with fresh eyes.”
Make sure to keep an eye out for Gabbie’s work in the final week both in print and on the television.
With a career spanning several decades she certainly has her finger on the pulse.
