Communication Mode
NCV is independent of all political parties, elected officials, and funding bodies. We will work to recruit a wide cross section of Members with a geographical, age and gender spread comparable with ABS demographic indicators. We work constructively after each election, at each level of government, to improve the way we are governed and strive towards achieving the type of lifestyle and quality of environment our community expects. Our area covers all 12 Local Government Divisions, 11 State Government Electorates and 3 Federal Government Divisions. After each election (Local, State or Federal) the “democracy clock” starts again.
Following each election, we work/communicate with whoever was elected in each seat (the incumbent) to try to get the best results possible for our community, environment and economy. We collect and communicate community wishes, in the format of explicit, desired ‘outcomes’, to elected representatives. This is termed COMMUNICATION Mode.
We then examine the credentials, platform of each candidate and the degree of alignment with our 10 shared ’Values’. If none are found to be sufficiently aligned, we may seek to identify and endorse an Independent candidate who is aligned with our values and agrees to create a separate entity to do their own fundraising and manage their independent campaign.When the election process formally begins, NCV will publish a list of candidates, ranked according to their degree of alignment with NCV values. If/when there are NCV-endorsed Independent candidates, we will supply volunteers and IT support for their campaign. This is termed CAMPAIGN Mode. If there are no NCV-endorsed candidates, NCV Members are free to support, in their own private capacity, the candidates they feel are most aligned with NCV values.
Accountability Mode
As elections approach (at each level) we review the performance of each incumbent and assess the degree to which we can hold them accountable for progress towards our expressed outcomes. This is termed ACCOUNTABILITY Mode.
It is a difficult task to assess the performance of politicians fairly and objectively. The three main guides to assessing performances may be summarised as:
• What they have said they are going to do:
• How they behave and what they actually do: and
• Whether Community outcomes are being achieved or community culture is beneficially impacted.
We will instigate a process of identifying a suitable candidate to run in that electorate (local, state or federal) with NCV endorsement and support. If we are successful in identifying a suitable candidate willing to proceed with nomination, NCV will enter into an agreement with the candidate covering the contribution of both parties to the campaign and the expectations of the performance of parties over the period up until the next election, if the candidate is successful.
The Accountability phase will conclude when fresh elections are called. We will produce a leaflet listing the candidates in ranked order according to how closely they align with NCV values and priorities.
Campaign Mode
We then examine the credentials, platform of each candidate and the degree of alignment with our 10 shared ’Values’. If none are found to be sufficiently aligned, we may seek to identify and endorse an Independent candidate who is aligned with our values and agrees to create a separate entity to do their own fundraising and manage their independent campaign.When the election process formally begins, NCV will publish a list of candidates, ranked according to their degree of alignment with NCV values. If/when there are NCV-endorsed Independent candidates, we will supply volunteers and IT support for their campaign. This is termed CAMPAIGN Mode.
To become an NCV-endorsed independent the candidate must form their own separate campaign entity, funding arrangements and adopt a platform consistent with NCV values and outcomes agenda. NCV will then assist by providing advice, volunteers and access to NCV campaign software platform in accordance with an Endorsement Agreement to be signed by both parties.
If there are no NCV-endorsed candidates, NCV Members are free to support, in their own private capacity, the candidates they feel are most aligned with NCV values.
The major sustainable advantage independent voices groups have is the size and enthusiasm of the volunteer force they seem to be able to raise in Australia. We expect, when the level of interest in politics is raised in the leadup to an election, a significant proportion of Members will be sufficiently motivated to volunteer for campaigning for NCV-endorsed candidates.