Heโs known as TVโs โMr Fix-Itโ on The Living Room but Barry โBazโ Du Bois is about to take on his biggest challenge yet – heโs running for a seat in the Senate in the next Federal Election.
You might be wondering what a TV star wants with politics and the answer is simple – to borrow the words of Australian Democrats founder Don Chipp, he says heย just wants to โkeep the bastardsย honest.โ
โItโs time for the average Australian to be given a seat at the table,โ dad-of-two Baz said. โFor too long, politicians have used complicated language to hide the fact not everyoneโs been getting a fair go.
โThis is not about being left-wing or right-wing or whether you like ScoMo or Albo. This is about getting an Independent in the Senate, to review legislation and to make sure it will create a prosperous Australia for everyone. Not just the privileged few with money and influence.
โWeโve all being let down by a system where deals are done behind closed doors and where big corporations and the lobbyists have all the power.
My promise is to be the voice for the everyday citizen. I will look at every bit of legislation through their eyes, to evaluate how it will personally affect them, their family and the Australia thatโs going to be left behind for their kids.โ
It might seem hard to reconcile that Baz could have much inย common with the everyday Aussie but in fact he grew up a proud member of the working class. And heโs experienced first-hand how the unequal distribution of resources plays out. Denied adequate educational support for his dyslexia, he left school unable to read and write.
His story could have turned out very differently had he not had business smarts and the drive for success. And, after getting his building certificate, he managed to build a design, building and property development business so successful, he was able to retire at 45.
Hosting Tenโs successful lifestyle show The Living Room became his next chapter, as well as working tirelessly for various charities including the Cancer Council, Hummingbird House, and R U OK? Day.
Ask him what his favourite job is though, and itโs raising his nine-year-old twins Arabella and Bennett, with wife, Leonie.
But when he looks at his kids, and children everywhere, itโs the growing gap between the haves and have-nots in Australian society thatโs begun to really worry him.
Hisย promise is to evaluate every law based on his charterย โย Seven โFair Go for Allโ pillars:
โข Sustainability. Meeting our needs economically, environmentally and socially without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
โข Commerce. Striking the right balance between Capitalism and the free market. Working towards a fairer tax system, and a model that relies less on corporate welfare. To create a nation of wealth for the Commonwealth and the individual.
โข Culture. A culture that is inclusive and based on respect, clear communication and radical transparency.
โข Education. Education is the future of our nation. It must be free, equal and accessible to all.
โข Health. Medical care, health and medicines must be accessible to all regardless of wealth, location, age or condition. Weโre a rich country compared to most. We need to do better.
โขย Cohesion. The word Commonwealth refers to sharing the common wealthย –ย the riches of oneโs country. Yet Australiaโs wealth is enjoyed by a privileged few. We need to work moreย cohesively so everyone can enjoy the spoils.
โข Transparency. Radical transparency means we govern openly and fairly so the citizen who voted for me has full disclosure on all interactions conduct on their behalf.
Of course, itโs easy to spout utopian ideology with no real plan. But if thereโs any bloke,ย determined to get a job done, itโs a man whoโs beaten cancer twice. โNoneย of us know how long weโve got left here. Thatโs why Iโm going to use whatever time I haveย leftย to make a big difference. Itโs for my kids. Itโs for your kids. And itโs for Australia,โย he said.
