Dear Daniel,

This is my final e-newsletter before Election Day this Saturday - I hope it’s not my last one and wanted to write with some updates about voting, and to ask for your support this time. 

Just a reminder that if you are going away for the long weekend you can get down to vote at prepoll today until 5:30pm and tomorrow until 6pm. Depending on where you’re travelling to you may also be able to cast an absentee ballot, but I’d strongly encourage you to get it out of the way so you don’t forget!

Here’s why I’m asking for your number [1] vote

In the past three years, my team and I have been able to secure genuine positive change in our community. 

Because our community voted Greens, we’ve established a  weekly free school breakfast program in four public schools, funded out of my personal salary that has served over 40,000 meals in Griffith.

Because our community voted Greens, I sat opposite the Prime Minister and negotiated $3 billion of extra funding for public and community housing - meaning thousands more Australians in severe housing stress will now have a life-changing roof over their head.

Because our community voted Greens, we’ve pushed Labor to adopt Greens policies like seeing the GP for free, banning supermarket price gouging, or wiping 20% off student debt.

Because our community voted Green, together we’ve made a difference.

Looking ahead

At this election, you don’t have to choose between going backwards under the Liberals, or tinkering around the edges under Labor.

If I’m re-elected as your MP, I’m giving you my personal guarantee that I’ll never support Peter Dutton to become Prime Minister. 

By voting 1 Greens, you can help keep Dutton out, but critically, you’ll also keep me as your strong voice independent of the major parties, and I’ll push Labor to act on the cost of living, housing and climate crisis.

This election, I’m fighting to bring Dental and Mental Health into Medicare, universal free childcare and university, to stop big oil & gas corporations from making hundreds of billions from exporting our resources but paying $0 in tax, to scrap negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount for more than 1 investment property so renters can buy their first home, to secure real action on climate change, a curfew and cap at Brisbane Airport, and much more.

These are big changes. We accept that we won't get everything overnight. And you may not even agree with the Greens on everything!

Experts are saying there’s a big chance of a minority parliament. Last time the Greens were in that position in 2010, we kept Tony Abbott out, helped Gillard become PM, and secured dental into Medicare for kids and billions of dollars of investment in renewables. 

This election we have a chance to take another big positive step forward towards a positive, long-term vision for a better future for our community, and for future generations. 

But we need a strong representative who is willing to really push for change. 

And nothing will change if seats like Griffith go back to another major party politician. 

That’s why this election, we can’t afford to go backwards.

To keep me as your local representative, I need your number 1 vote.

Saturday is a long weekend - don’t forget to vote!

This Saturday is not only the end of the election campaign it’s also the start of (another!) long weekend! As an aside- I hope you’ve been enjoying these extra days with family, friends and community. Long weekends often remind us what is really important, and 

If you are heading away on Saturday, today and tomorrow are your last chances for early voting. 

If you know someone who you think might forget - please share this message with them!

On Friday, you can vote early at the following locations, between 8:30am-6:00pm.

• St Stephen's Anglican Church Coorparoo - 343 Cavendish Rd, Coorparoo QLD 4151
• West End Uniting Church - 11 Sussex St, West End QLD 4101
• Or close by at Brisbane City Hall - 64 Adelaide St, Brisbane City QLD 4000

On Saturday, you can vote across Griffith at 34 voting locations. Find your closest polling booth here. Voting on Saturday is open from 8am - 6pm.

Applications for postal votes have now closed. If you’ve received a postal vote, make sure it is filled in and witnessed before 6pm on election day and mailed back to the AEC immediately. If you haven’t received your ballot and are worried about it arriving in time, I’d suggest heading to a polling station instead if that is an option for you. If not you may be eligible for phone voting, though we have heard reports that the line is very difficult to get through on. 

If you happen to be away for election day and can’t get to a local early voting booth you can vote at a booth where you are. Find your closest location here. 

If you’re overseas at the moment and will be until after the election, the AEC will offer in-person voting for Australian embassies, consulates, and high commissions overseas: More information here.

If you’re confused or have any more questions about voting, you can get in touch with my office on (07) 3397 1674 and my team will do their best to assist you.

My final e-newsletter before polling day

Whether you’re a long-time reader of this newsletter or a recent subscriber - thank you for reading and following along with my Griffith Community Updates.

I’ve tried my best through these updates to be authentic, personal, transparent, and informative - so you can really understand what I stand for and how I’m working for you as your representative.

And during difficult times like Cyclone Alfred, I switched to almost daily updates to help give you the information you needed, when you needed it.

In this day and age of soundbites and slogans, it might be a bit mad to send a sometimes six page long e-newsletter! But I believe that being open and willing to trust people with the information is part of what being a good local representative should do.

I really appreciate your questions, comments and feedback on every newsletter, and I hope these updates helped you keep informed about our democracy and our community!

If you’ve still got a burning question as you make up your mind this election day, please don’t hesitate to reach out and I’ll be answering as many emails as I possibly can between now and Saturday! You can also leave your number for me or just give my office a call and one of my friendly team can help, or better yet come down to St Stephens at Coorparoo prepoll today or tomorrow where I’ll be as much of the time as possible and ask me your questions in person. 

Thanks again for all of your engagement, input and support. 

In hope,

Max