Conor Hallahan, a candidate for Franklin with the Jacqui Lambie Network, brings a rich background of farming and entrepreneurship, starting his own business at 15. His career has instilled in him a strong sense of accountability, emphasizing the importance of following through on commitments.
As the General Manager (EPC Lead) of a Tasmanian manufacturing business with a presence in Southern Tasmania, Australia, and Asia, Hallahan leads a team specializing in engineering and project management for large-scale machinery and facilities. Hallahan is driven by concerns over the declining quality of life for Tasmanians, attributed to poor governmental decisions affecting the cost of living, the sustainability of small businesses, housing affordability, and inefficient infrastructure.
His campaign focuses on addressing these issues by leveraging his experience in navigating bureaucracy and implementing effective solutions.
Cost of Living: Advocating for policies that prevent hard-earned money from being eroded by large corporate profits and poor governmental decisions.
Emphasizing the need to reduce red tape, excessive taxes, and the unfair competitive advantages granted to larger corporations.
Addressing the urgent need for accessible housing and criticizing the state government's sluggish response to the housing shortage.
Proposing solutions to alleviate traffic congestion in Franklin to improve commute times and quality of life for families. Hallahan's candidacy is motivated by a commitment to enhance the living standards in Franklin through practical governance and a focus on community needs.
The Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN), founded on May 14, 2015, by Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie, is a political party in Australia known for its populist and socially conservative stances. Initially part of the Palmer United Party, Lambie formed JLN to continue her political career independently, particularly to re-contest her Senate seat.
Key policies include the establishment of a comprehensive national apprenticeship, trade, and traineeship system involving the Australian Defence Force and TAFEs; the creation of dedicated Indigenous seats in parliament; and the support for implementing a carbon tax. Lambie has been a strong advocate for a royal commission into veteran suicide, opposing the government's preference for a National Commissioner and advocating for a solution that aligns with the desires of affected families and critics.
In terms of political finance, Lambie introduced legislation aimed at enhancing transparency by significantly lowering the disclosure threshold for political donations. On economic matters, she has campaigned to bolster Australian manufacturing to reduce dependency on imports, an issue highlighted by the challenges posed by COVID-19.
The party expresses strong concerns about foreign interference in Australian democracy and economy, specifically highlighting threats from China. Additionally, JLN supports the introduction of a financial transactions tax as part of its broader reformative and protective policies across various domains.
The JLN achieved electoral success in the 2022 federal election and the 2024 Tasmanian state election, marking its presence in both the Senate and the Tasmanian House of Assembly. However, in March 2024, Senator Tammy Tyrrell announced her resignation from the party to sit as an independent, indicating internal disagreements on representation and policy direction.
The Jacqui Lambie Network aims to reshape Australian politics by promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. The party seeks to represent diverse Australian communities, particularly those overlooked by mainstream politics, advocating for policies that directly benefit the underrepresented and economically disadvantaged groups.
It emphasizes the importance of community input in legislative processes and aims to bring real change by focusing on grassroots involvement and direct engagement with constituents.