How I Vote

How do. I’m Craig Garland, your independent member for Braddon. I don’t answer to a party room, donors or lobbyists — I answer to the people of the North West, West Coast and King Island. Every vote I make in Parliament is a conscience vote, based on what’s best for our communities.

Independent — Not Tied to Any Party

I came into politics from the fishing industry and community campaigns, not from a political machine. That means:

  • No party whip telling me how to vote
  • No backroom deals
  • No pressure to “toe the line”

My only job is to represent locals and stand up for fairness, transparency and common sense.

What I Vote On

  • I am member of the House of Assembly, also called the lower house. Each Member is called on to vote on motions and bills. Bills, if passed, become laws. Motions are more symbolic statements of the parliament acknowledging or highlighting a particular event or circumstance, or calling on the Government to act in a particular way.
  • Do the homework – get briefings on the Bill from the Government and other concerned stakeholders, and review the written submissions received from the public on the Bill.

What Guides My Vote

  • Community first – Does this actually help people in our towns? Will it improve life on the Coast or make things harder?
  • Cost of living & fairness – Does it ease pressure on households, renters and workers, rather than favouring those who already have plenty?
  • Integrity & transparency – Does it clean up politics, stop pork-barrelling and make government more accountable?
  • Healthy environment – Decisions must protect our oceans, rivers, forests and farmland. Our livelihoods depend on it.
  • Sound finances – No more wasteful mega-projects while essential services fall behind. Spending must be responsible and justified.
  • Respect for First Nations voices – Aboriginal Tasmanians have cared for this land and sea for thousands of years. Their knowledge matters.

How I Decide on Each Bill

  • Listen to the community – emails, calls, meetings and conversations across Braddon.
  • Do the homework – read the bill thoroughly and look at the evidence.
  • Check the numbers – assess financial impacts and long-term costs.
  • Test it against my principles – fairness, integrity, sustainability, community benefit.
  • Vote accordingly – support the good, oppose the bad, amend what can be improved.

Working With Any Government

I’ll work with any party when policies genuinely help Tasmanians. And I’ll stand up to any party when something is unfair, wasteful or not in the community’s interest.

What This Looks Like in Practice

The question I always ask is: Does this make life better for people in Braddon and Tasmania?

Have Your Say

I want to hear from you. If you’ve got a view on legislation or an idea for how we can do things better, get in touch: