Candice Burch

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Candice Burch
Member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
for Kurrajong
In office
13 December 2017 – 17 October 2020
Preceded bySteve Doszpot
Personal details
Born (1988-08-26) 26 August 1988 (age 35)
South Africa
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLiberal Party
Alma materAustralian National University
OccupationPolitician
Websitewww.candiceburch.com.au

Candice Burch (born 26 August 1988) is an Australian politician who was a Liberal member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. Candice Burch is not to be confused with nor is biologically related to Joy Burch, who is another member of the ACT Legislative Assembly. Candice Burch was one of three Canberra Liberals who lost their seat in the 2020 ACT Election.[1] Since losing her seat in the Assembly, Candice now works as Public Affairs and Communications Manager for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.[2]

Election and Work in the ACT Legislative Assembly[edit]

Burch was elected in a count-back held on 11 December 2017 to fill the casual vacancy for the Kurrajong electorate caused by the death of Steve Doszpot, and was declared elected on 13 December.[3] Burch stated that it was not easy to take the seat in such difficult circumstances.[4] However, her 'deep-rooted passion' for freedom, equal opportunity and small government led her to take-up the challenge.[5] In her inaugural speech, Burch noted that her sudden election was reflective of the 'unexpected nature of life and Hare-Clark’.[6] Burch stated that being a member of the ACT Legislative Assembly involves a lot of hard work and a genuine desire to represent one's constituents.[7]

Burch's election marked the first female-majority Liberal opposition in Australia.[8] Another motivating factor for Burch was to assist in removing barriers to gender equality.[9] She noted in her inaugural speech that being a Liberal and being a woman are not incompatible identities.[10]

Burch became the Liberals' Shadow Minister for Transport & Public Sector Management and was a fierce opponent of the Canberra Light Rail.[11] In the portfolio Burch was responsible for policy in relation to transport and road safety.[12] In her role, Burch fought against what she saw as poorly managed and directed bus routes, which in tandem with the light rail caused great transport issues in the ACT.[13] Burch has noted that her proudest achievement was her campaign mounted against the ACT Government's cuts for school buses and the reversal of a number of those cuts.[14]

Early career[edit]

Burch was born in South Africa, and emigrated to Australia at a young age.[15] She graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Economics. She was previously employed in the Australian Public Service, most recently as an assistant director in the Department of Finance.[16]

Burch has stated that she has had a keen interest in local politics since she was a young person.[17] After moving to Canberra in 2007, Burch became the ANU Liberal Club President in 2010 and the ACT Young Liberal President in 2014.[18] Burch noticed extraordinary levels of Government debt and believed it was important to put up her hand and to have a young person involved in the decisions of how public money is spent.[19]

2020 ACT Election[edit]

The 2020 ACT Election saw seat loses for both Labor and the Liberals.[20] Alongside James Milligan and Andrew Wall, Burch was one of three Liberals to lose their seat.[21] Burch was battling for the fifth Kurrajong seat of which she narrowly lost to the ACT Greens' Rebecca Vassarotti.[22]

During the 2020 ACT Election, an internal ACT Liberal Party investigation revolved around the illegal destruction of Burch's campaign material by former ACT Young Liberal President, Ben Dennehy.[23][24][25] Throughout the campaign, hundreds of Candice Burch corflutes (i.e. political signage) were systematically destroyed under the cover of darkness.[26] The investigation allegedly found video evidence of Ben Dennehy vandalising Burch's campaign material.[27] The investigation culminated in Ben Dennehy's resignation from the party in early 2021 alongside a second ACT Young Liberal who was not named.[28] Almost a year on at the 2021 Canberra Liberals Annual General Meeting in December, party members continued to ask questions and called for the party president to give a public apology to Burch.[29] At the meeting, one party member stated: "To this day there would be party members who would be unaware of the cruel campaign... that was waged against Candice by two of our own ... I implore the Division to apologise to Candice for failing to meet its duty of care."[30]

Personal life[edit]

Burch has also made public that she is a supporter of the Sydney Swans AFL team and the Canberra Brave Ice Hockey team.[31] Additionally, she notes that she is an avid reader, stating after her electoral loss “I’m most excited about having time off and getting back to my reading list”.[32] Burch is a distant cousin of Australian actress Liz Burch. Burch herself has appeared in television as herself on ABC's The House and Weekend Edition.[33]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Staff reporters (23 October 2020). "The results are in, here's who's been elected to Legislative Assembly". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  2. ^ Bushnell, Ian. "Call for apology to Candice Burch exposes Liberal divisions". Riotact. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Candice Burch to be elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly". ACT Elections. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Late Steve Doszpot replaced in ACT Legislative Assembly by former public servant". www.abc.net.au. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  5. ^ Burgess, Katie (13 February 2018). "Newest Canberra Liberal Candice Burch sworn in, takes aim at government waste". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  6. ^ Candice Burch MLA - Inaugural Speech, retrieved 29 June 2021
  7. ^ Manager, Web (28 April 2020). "Candice Burch". www.parliament.act.gov.au. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  8. ^ Burgess, Katie (13 February 2018). "Newest Canberra Liberal Candice Burch sworn in, takes aim at government waste". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  9. ^ "YWCA Canberra: Meet a Candidate: Candice Burch". ywca-canberra.org.au. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  10. ^ Candice Burch MLA - Inaugural Speech, retrieved 29 June 2021
  11. ^ Burgess, Katie (13 February 2018). "Newest Canberra Liberal Candice Burch sworn in, takes aim at government waste". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Candice Burch – Wen Mentoring ACT". Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  13. ^ Williams, Elliot (13 October 2019). "Canberra Liberals promise to return school buses". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  14. ^ Strahorn, Belinda (10 November 2020). "How much does it hurt to lose an election?". Canberra CityNews. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Electorate: Kurrajong". ABC Elections. ABC. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  16. ^ "Late Steve Doszpot replaced in ACT Legislative Assembly by former public servant". ABC News. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  17. ^ Manager, Web (28 April 2020). "Candice Burch". www.parliament.act.gov.au. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  18. ^ Manager, Web (28 April 2020). "Candice Burch". www.parliament.act.gov.au. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  19. ^ Manager, Web (28 April 2020). "Candice Burch". www.parliament.act.gov.au. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  20. ^ Staff reporters (23 October 2020). "The results are in, here's who's been elected to Legislative Assembly". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  21. ^ Staff reporters (23 October 2020). "The results are in, here's who's been elected to Legislative Assembly". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Kurrajong". ABC News.
  23. ^ Giannini, Dominic. "Prominent ACT Young Liberal faces hearings over election material tampering allegations". The RiotACT. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  24. ^ Giannini, Dominic. "Two ACT Young Liberals resign over corflute destruction". The RiotACT. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  25. ^ Giannini, Dominic. "ACT Young Liberal president suspended for allegedly vandalising Liberal's corflutes". The RiotACT. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  26. ^ Bushnell, Ian. "Call for apology to Candice Burch exposes Liberal divisions". Riotact. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  27. ^ Giannini, Dominic. "ACT Young Liberal president suspended for allegedly vandalising Liberal's corflutes". The RiotACT. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  28. ^ Giannini, Dominic. "Two ACT Young Liberals resign over corflute destruction". The RiotACT. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  29. ^ Bushnell, Ian. "Call for apology to Candice Burch exposes Liberal divisions". Riotact. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  30. ^ Bushnell, Ian. "Call for apology to Candice Burch exposes Liberal divisions". Riotact. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  31. ^ Manager, Web (28 April 2020). "Candice Burch". www.parliament.act.gov.au. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  32. ^ Strahorn, Belinda (10 November 2020). "How much does it hurt to lose an election?". Canberra CityNews. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  33. ^ Weekend Edition (TV Series 2019– ) - IMDb, retrieved 29 June 2021
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