Prominent social justice campaigner Megan Krakouer join’s WA Senator Fatima Payman’s Australia’s Voice party

WA Senator Fatima Payman has recruited prominent social justice campaigner Megan Krakouer as a candidate for her break-away political party Australia’s Voice. Ms Payman labelled Ms Krakouer a “powerful advocate” and said she would be leading the party’s WA Senate ticket. As one of WA’s most prominent Aboriginal activists, Ms Krakouer called for inquiry into missing aboriginal men and was a chief organiser of the class action against the scandal-plagued Banksia Hill Detention Centre and Unit 18. Ahead of the 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum, the Noongar woman had initially opposed it but later switched her position and endorsed the ‘Yes’ campaign. Ms Krakouer said she the platform would allow her to continue her mission to give a voice to the voiceless and stand up for First Nations people and marginalised communities. “WA is my home. I know its struggles, I know its strengths, and I know its people deserve better. I am ready to take this fight to Canberra and ensure that our voices heard,” she said. “Whether it’s families grieving the loss of loved ones to suicide, children lost in an out-of-home care system that fails them, or the deep scars of systemic racism, I have seen firsthand the devastation caused by injustice. “Australia’s Voice is a party about action, not empty promises. We are here to hold governments accountable and fight for real justice.” It’s understood Ms Krakouer had initially been among a string of names who have nominated for Greens preselection for the WA upper house for the upcoming WA election before plans were discussed for her candidacy for the federal seat of Fremantle. However, in late January Ms Krakouer announced in a fiery social media post she had formally ended her membership with the Greens and accused them of racism. “At the appropriate time, I plan to reveal my experiences of racism, bias, power plays, no procedural fairness, discrimination, and unfair practices in The Greens that I endured at the hands of individuals who claim to be advocates for inclusivity,” she wrote. Ms Payman described Ms Krakouer as “a fighter” who had spent her life advocating for people “the system has left behind”. “Megan Krakouer is a fighter. I have no doubt she will bring that same relentless passion to the Senate,” she said. “The major parties have failed Western Australians for too long. They take this state for granted, treating it as nothing more than an economic workhorse while ignoring the deep inequalities our communities face. “Australia’s Voice is here to change that, and with Megan leading our Senate ticket, WA has a champion who will never back down.” The Labor-turned-Independent had launched a new political party in October last year, promising to offer “something different” to voters who felt “left behind” by the major parties. She announced her first candidate, Victorian Muslim community worker Mohamed El Masri, on Saturday who had also been a Greens candidate but spectacularly quit to be the lead on the Australia’s Voice party’s Victorian Senate ticket.