With the federal election fast approaching, undecided voters will have the opportunity to ask their local candidates about what matters most to them.
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Community members are invited to attend a 'Meet the Candidates' forum this Wednesday, May 4 between 7pm and 9pm at the Goulburn Workers Club.
Seven out of the nine Hume candidates have confirmed they will be attending the forum.
Labor candidate Greg Baines, Independent Penny Ackery, Independent Sheneli Dona, United Australia Party candidate Garry Dollin, Greens candidate Karen Stewart, Liberal Democratic Party candidate Joaquim Eduardo De Lima and Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party candidate Ross Seller have all confirmed their attendance.
Sitting Liberal MP for Hume Angus Taylor and One Nation candidate Rebecca Thompson have declined the invitation, although the offer remains open.
A statement from Mr Taylor's office explained he would not be attending due to a longstanding policy of not participating in forums organised by special interest groups, activists, or individuals aligned with a political party or campaign.
"Mr Taylor will participate in a community forum that is non-partisan, fair and puts the interests of our communities first," the statement read.
The Goulburn Group will be hosting the panel with the Goulburn Post as a sponsorship partner.
President Urs Walterlin stressed that The Goulburn Group is a community group and not a special interest group.
He guaranteed a fair procedure for all candidates with no vetted questions, unlike what occurred in the previous forum which took place in 2019.
Mr Walterlin said the The Goulburn Group was there to facilitate the forum, not participate.
"This is an event for the community," Mr Walterlin said.
Each candidate will have equal speaking time, with the opportunity to make brief opening and closing remarks and to answer questions from the floor.
Misbehaviour and disrespectful questions will not be tolerated.
One of Australia's most respected journalists, Michelle Grattan, was originally meant to moderate the forum but pulled out after Mr Taylor declined the invitation, with concerns of appearing to favor the other candidates.
The forum will instead be moderated by Mike Steketee, a former writer for The Australian, a member of the Press Gallery in Canberra, a sheep farmer and the vice-president of The Goulburn Group.
Mr Walterlin encouraged everyone in the community to attend but particularly those who were undecided on who to vote for.
"It's a chance to ask questions about issues that are truly concerning the community," he said.
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