David O’Reilly wants to see government invest in TAFE. Photos: Oliver Jacques.
Griffith bus driver David O’Reilly says he’s transformed himself from a donkey voter to an engaged citizen and is running for parliament to give ordinary people a voice.
The 55-year-old endeared himself to the crowd at a Griffith election forum last week, with answers that distinguished him from other participants.
All the candidates were asked: “How many properties do you own?”
Mr O’Reilly replied: “I’m a renter.”
As the only renter on the panel (who also doesn’t own any investment properties), he says he has firsthand experience of the housing crisis.
“Guess how much our rent is? Six hundred and fifty dollars a week. I’m glad I live with two other people,” he told Region.
“You have to go through so much red tape just to build a house. The panels you have must be to certain specifications, if not, it won’t get built. I want to cut red tape.”
Mr O’Reilly is standing for Gerard Rennick People First, formed by an ex-Liberal National Party senator of the same name who split with his party after opposing vaccine mandates.
The People First party wants to withdraw Australia from the World Health Organisation, stop funding to address climate change and reduce immigration.
“I’m not your normal politician; I caught chickens for [poultry producer] Baiada and now I drive buses for Griffith Buslines,” Mr O’Reilly told the Griffith forum.
“I’ve been voting for 30 years and you keep hearing the same thing. But there’s no action, nothing is being done. I’m a doer. When someone gives me an instruction, I go out there and actually do it, I get results.”
He made a frank admission at the forum.
“I’m the reason why Australia is in this mess. I spent [many] years stumbling along, I just went into [the polling booth] and ticked boxes … I did a donkey vote.
“The only reason why I’m here is because Gerard Rennick put out the call for people to do the right thing … I put my hand up. If you want someone who has your best interests at heart, I think I’m good enough … evil prevails when good men do nothing.”
David O’Reilly (centre) was on a Farrer election forum panel with Glen Hyde, MP Sussan Ley, Michelle Milthorpe and Tanya Hargraves.
Mr O’Reilly was born in Fiji and grew up in Queensland.
“I dropped into Griffith on a two-week holiday 20-something years ago, and I’ve been here ever since. I think I just like the people,” he said.
Though a migrant himself, he says government is taking the easy way out by using immigration to plug skill shortages.
“I’m not against immigration, but we’ve got the people here [to work]. Why don’t we tell them in Year 10 to start an apprenticeship if they don’t want to go to Year 12,” he said.
“My stepdad quit school early and went to a technical college, where he got trained as a boilermaker. He’s worked in the same place for 30 years and now runs the operation.
“I wonder why we don’t do that anymore? In NSW, they’ve been taking money away from TAFE and cutting down all the courses. TAFE should be free.”
If elected, Mr O’Reilly says he’ll challenge the status quo on several issues.
“I don’t think I’ll be a good politician, I’ll be asking too many questions,” he said.
