The morning train is pretty full as people come through Traralgon Station. Showstealer is there holding a meet and greet with some of the people as they stop to have a chat on their way to work

Dominic 36: It's great to see you back man, I hope everything is going well and you're able to get through a full term, but why should I vote for you over any of the major parties? I mean, they seem like good people too.

Showstealer: Well first I can only tell you what I've been told by my doctors and experts in my condition and they tell me there's no reason I can't run a full term. In answer to your question though, let me ask you something first, Do you know anyone who was close to the recent flood crisis?

Dominic: Yeah, yeah I know people who were, they were pretty mad about how the response was from the government. I mean, I know they're busy and all but isn't the point about Australia that we help each other when we're down?

Showstealer: Of course it is right? But where was the co-ordination with local charities and community groups? Where was the federal level support? Where was the funding to get people on their feet again and local people to ensure it goes to the people who need it? We need both federal and local levels working in sync. Hey do you have a moment for me to explain what I think should be?

Dominic: Well I gotta get to work, but I can spare another 5 minutes.

Showstealer: Great! Well what we need as I said is a combination of voices in local communities and a federal level, it's not just with disasters like the floods, we're going through a huge cost of living crisis as well. Which is why we need local solutions and a local voice . But for disasters, we need a rapid response team, made up of experts in disaster management who can predict from experience what areas will need the most help and co-ordinate with the local SES and CFA volunteers to ensure it happens, public service workers from Centrelink to ensure the relief money is getting to the people that need it as fast as possible and contractors, builders and insurance assessors to ensure that claims are processed fast and that the rebuilding of those communities can begin straight away. That team should always be on standby when a disaster occurs, ready to be called. That is my idea, the National Emergency Situation Team. or NEST for short. We have the funding in the budget already, it's just a matter of moving it to the right places to ensure that we can deploy them.

Dominic: That sounds like a great idea. I would definitely love to see it enacted.

Jasmine, 18: So I just turned 18 and it's my first time voting and I really like what the ANCAP party is saying, why should I listen to you over them?

Showstealer: Welcome to the fold. That's a very good question, I'm not saying the ANCAP party has bad ideas, some of them from what I've seen is actually quite sound, the idea of taxes on Super is probably a little further than I'd personally go but they have a sound reason behind it, but let me ask you something Jasmine, what makes them stand out to you?

Jasmine: Well, the fact they have a seat at the table with the government. I mean you wouldn't have that sitting on the crossbench, how can you get things done

Showstealer. That's a very good reason, but let me go back on that point about having a seat at the table, what have they done with it? Because, no offense to them, but from what I've seen, pretty sure the government ain't listening to them much. You can have all the members in the world at the table, but unless you're willing to walk away from the table when you're not being listened to, you're letting your constituents down. A lot of people will tell you that one independent person can't change things. But again let me ask you a few questions. Do you play video games Jasmine?

Jasmine: Well I play Apex Legends. I'm not very good at it but my clan has won a few minor tournaments.

Showstealer: That's great. But if you could improve and your clan got to the point where you could do it professionally, you'd have to stop work and school right to get as good as you can be. You need to be funded for that right?

Jasmine: Well yeah, there's still food and stuff, although my mum and dad would probably help a little...

Showstealer: But they wouldn't have to because E-Sports is funded by the AIS. The Institute of Sport. That was not a government initiative, that was an independent's initiative. Mine, to be exact. The GP Commission, ensuring that areas like Traralgon get the same health care that people in the big cities do and to be able to see a doctor when they're sick. That whole thing began because I went to the leader of the opposition at the time, NGSpy and we co-wrote a bill together to make it happen. The parties will always tell you that one independent can't make a difference, but at the same time they have time and time again abandoned the people of the electorate by not representing them properly. A local voice will always understand local issues better and can fight for them better, even if they don't always have a seat at the table.

Jasmine: I guess I never thought of it that way, I think I'll still vote for ANCAP but my second preference is definitely you!.

Showstealer: And that's totally fair. I hope you enjoy your first taste of voting.

Michael, 67: So what do you think of the LNP and their candidate?

Showstealer: Normally Umatbru amuses me whenever he runs, Only this time I'm not laughing. I think it just shows the disdain the LNP have for the people of Nicholls, they only bother to try when it's convenient to them. They've been like so many other parties, that try when the election is on and then treat us as an afterthought. That's why I wanted to come back. Because I know we deserve better, don't you think we deserve better?

Michael: I mean of course but what else can be done?

Showstealer: Well I can tell what you can do, you can vote for me and you can send a message to the major parties that you're sick and tired of being ignored, that you want someone who'll listen and who'll always fight for you and that will be there with a proven track record. That's what we can do now.

For the most part the meetings were positive, showstealer managed to lean quite a few things and convince a few people to look towards him, while everthing wasn't perfect a fun day was had