Geoff Steps Up for Federal Election
BY DI SNEDDON
The United Australia Party have announced their candidate for the upcoming Federal Election in Geoff Passfield.
His name may be familiar to some, having spent three years teaching industrial arts at Muswellbrook High School from 2017 to 2019.
Prior to working as a teacher he worked across the region filling labour hire positions as a qualified motor mechanic.
Geoff lives in West Wallsend with his wife, Pip, and daughter, Kelsie, and said he put his hand up for the job because he is worried about what could happen to the region if different parties and policies get over the line.
While admitting he is not normally someone that gets overly political, it worries him hearing of arrangements that are being made between major parties that could put an early end to both coal mining and horse racing that he says are two of the Hunter region’s major exploits.
He was excited by the presentation at the Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce and Industry February breakfast that was an overview of what 2022 holds for the Chamber, which included ongoing support for businesses and a busy calendar of events.
Geoff’s plans for 2022 were a lot different to what is unfolding now, he was going to hitch up the campervan and get out on the open road.
Geoff says his lightbulb moment was receiving notification that he could no longer teach at Bourke High School, a permanent position, because he wasn’t double vaccinated.
He is quick to add that he has had every other vaccination but he wasn’t so sure about being vaccinated against covid and when it became mandatory, he was even more concerned.
He said he admires Australia United Party leader Craig Kelly because he took a stance against the mandatory order and wanted to debate the issue in parliament only to be refused.
“I don’t care if people are or are not vaccinated, it is up to individuals, but I do object to the mandatory stance the government has taken and that a 15-year-old kid on the door of Bunnings can ask for my medical history, how the hell did we get here?” he said.
“The situation is incredibly divisive and it shouldn’t be.”
United Australia Party will run a candidate in all 151 electorates in Australia.