I resolved to run for the seat of Bass in the 2016 federal election after years of thinking about it. As a progressive voter I was hoping for more from the Australian Labor Party, but on matters of importance to my clients it was hollow. Income support for the unemployed; affordable housing for the vulnerable; access to healthcare and dental treatment; fairer treatment of refugees; commitments to public education and the NDIS – all the policies were inadequate to my mind. Too little to be delivered to be most vulnerable far too slowly.

So, I invested in some promotional material, including a branded campaign car, and commenced engagement with the electorate. I had the support for a few members of my family and some close friends.

I announced my candidacy as an independent through The Examiner newspaper, and then it all fell apart.

A former colleague called the day the article appeared in the paper.  He reprimanded me for using the professional title of Social Worker. I hadn’t. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t because I didn’t hold a social work qualification. The reporter had used this term not me. My media release and my conversation with the reporter was very clear.

I went to work that day and talked with an actual social worker, and he wished me all the best in Canberra, asking when I would be moving there. He had so little understanding of the political process he had some bizarre view that if I declare I wish to stand for election that I am immediately chosen and begin formal representation in the national capital. I am not kidding. I checked I understood what he meant. I left feeling concerned for what else this dual degree carrying professional did not know.

I was on the receiving end of some jibing, and that was all in good humour, however it was the questioning I received from my line manager that concerned me most. There was tension in our relationship already, I had been removed from my substantive role, and now my candidacy was signalling I wanted a career change. I had earlier advised the CEO and my line manager, and received a benign response.  Ultimately, we both knew I was no chance of being elected. I had limited name recognition and zero popular endorsement. I was standing on principle. I was standing up for issues that neither major parties had addressed adequately. For him though, this was utter stupidity. He questioned why I would do it. And the undertone suggested he was not going to make it easy for me.

Eventually, I did the maths. I was in a precarious position at work. My finances would be drained by a decent campaign effort, and my mental health was being affected by the shit hand I was dealt at work. I pulled the pin. I blew about $5000 and slipped back into anonymity in the community. I note that have middle class privileges that enabled me to attempt this; I had a job, I had surplus income, and I had white, educated, male advantages. Still, I couldn’t make it to the start line.