Steve can be contacted on 0402580446 or steve.hurd@australianlabor.com.au
04/08/2010 Labor Candidate for Kooyong Steve Hurd joined Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services Bill Shorten at a morning tea in Prahran today to promote Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week.
Bill received a warm reception from parents, meeting children affected by the disease, which affects one child in every 400 born in Australia.
The morning tea was organised by the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre, the only centre in Australia dedicated to babies and children with Cerebral Palsy.
A re-elected Gillard Labor Government will introduce the Better Start for Children with Disability initiative which will ensure children with disabilities that affect their development have access to intensive early intervention therapies and treatments from expert health professionals.
01/08/2010 Steve Hurd has produced two fantastic campaign videos. Check them out and share with your family, friends and colleagues.
07/07/2010 Steve's campaign was covered in the Age. Click here to read the article.
18/05/2010 Steve's campaign launch was covered in the Progress Leader.
08/05/2010 Steve's campaign was launched by Bill Shorten today in front of close to 100 supporters in Canterbury.
01/03/2010 More media on Steve's campaign. Click here to read the article.
24/11/2009 Steve's candidacy has been receiving support in the local media. Click here to read a recent letter to the editor.
17/11/2009 Steve's candidacy was covered in the Progress Leader. Article will be uploaded soon.
05/11/2009 Steve Hurd has been preselected to be the candidate of the Australian Labor Party in Kooyong in the upcoming Federal election. Please read the official statement below.
ALP MAKES HISTORIC CHOICE FOR KOOYONG CANDIDATE
Kooyong FEA President
Mr. Lindsay Sparrow
November 5, 2009
The Kooyong Branch of the ALP take pleasure in informing you that Steven Hurd has been preselected as our candidate for Kooyong for the next federal election. Steve brings a whole new dynamic to the political landscape. He has worked as a Barrister and Solicitor, public servant and won numerous awards for community service over the past 25 years. In 2009 he won the Antenna Award for being “The Most Outstanding Male Presenter” on Channel 31. It is also believed that this is the first time in Australian history that a major political party has preselected a person who is blind to be a candidate. We believe we are offering the voters of Kooyong a real alternative here. Steven’s determination and drive will ensure that if he is elected the voters of Kooyong will have a powerful, effective and articulate advocate for the issues confronting individuals, businesses and community groups in the electorate.
Steve was born in 1960 and at 6 months his mother discovered he was totally blind due to rubella. At age 2 and one-half he was given some sight which has almost gone over the years. Though he is in constant pain, he was one of the first blind people to leave an institution and attended Burwood High school from where he graduated near the top of his year. During his time there some people told him a sheltered workshop may be the contribution he makes to the community but Steve had other ideas. After studying Law and Arts at Monash he worked as a Solicitor and Barrister. He worked in community legal centres and for legal aid as well as being called to the Bar and practicing as a Barrister. He also volunteered in many community groups ranging from railway preservation groups to community broadcasting. He has worked in local and state government including the City of Boroondara and knows the community of Kooyong very well. His work has included youth policy, transport disability and justice. He has worked in contract law, property law as well as having conducted appeals cases. He has sat on government advisory boards including the Multipurpose Taxi Panel, The Victorian Disability Advisory Council as well as the Public Transport Access Committee.
Steven said:
“Every time I see people who knew me at uni or high school they always ask when I am going into politics. I believe I have the skill set to give the highest quality of representation for the people of Kooyong. I believe the liberal party have taken us for granted for too long; the candidate they propose has very little community experience and is part of that sector of the political community who see power and position as an end in itself. That is why they do not see public service as a pre requisite and believe that them being in parliament is public service. I disagree, historians note that great empires fall because people without a long history of public service get into positions of power and when things get tough, they do not have the requisite skillsets to engage with the community and find answers. I do not believe that being blind gives me the skills to be an M.P, but if I were to be elected I would be able to take the body politic into places it hither to has never been. Into the halls of the institutions, into the hearts of those who are disadvantaged because of age, disability, gender and ethnicity and into the homes of families effected by political decisions. I understand only too well that even well intentioned programs can affect some people adversely because they cannot read their mail, understand or afford computers and above all, they suffer emotionally from disadvantage.
On the other hand, I respect individual effort and innovation and those people who have worked hard to earn a living and I believe that most people in Australia want to do the right thing by those who are less fortunate. Therefore if the voters of Kooyong did me the honour of making me their elected representative I would be the most determined Member of Parliament they have had in the last 100 years. My only priority would be Kooyong issues; I would not see the seat as my chance for higher office. I truly believe that if voters looked at the candidates and not the parties, they would reach the conclusion that I can reflect their highest aspirations and hopes for the future of their families and the nation. It has been particularly encouraging to hear how positively people who are not politically engaged respond to my candidature. This attitude is best exemplified by one woman who said “”this is fantastic for the country; it is one of those things that make me proud of my country like the apology to the stolen generation did””.
Steven can be contacted on 0402580446
E/mail hurdini@me.com
