In key electorates across the country Tibetans and Tibet supporters have been meeting their candidates to discuss Tibet.

Grayndler in Sydney’s inner west is home to Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, with whom the local Tibetan community met back in November 2009 [See report]. Though considered “safe Labor”, Grayndler is one of a number of progressive inner city seats where the Greens are on the rise and the correct electoral dynamic exists for a possible upset. This would come about by the Greens outpolling the Liberals and the ALP performing sufficiently weakly to allow the Greens to scrape in on Liberal preferences.

Grayndler is also home to 45 Tibetans and has become a second hub of Sydney’s Tibetan community after Dee Why.

As in other key electorates, local Tibetans and ATC members have sought meetings with the main candidates.

On Friday 6 August Sam Byrne, Greens candidate for Grayndler, met with Geshe Samten, teacher at Ashfield’s Vajrayana Institute, Namloyak, a former researcher with the International Campaign for Tibet, Thonden Ralo, a former president of the Tibetan Community of NSW and Tsering Kyinzom, a local Tibetan and student at the University of Sydney.

Last year, as a Marrickville councillor, Mr. Byrne moved a motion that saw the Tibetan flag fly from Petersham Town Hall to mark the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising.

Thonden Ralo, a former political prisoner, outlined some of the issues facing Australia’s Tibetans, including the immense heartache for those who’ve been separated from their families and unable to return home. Thonden Ralo also discussed some of the more local challenges that his community currently faces, including the lack of a suitable venue for community events.

Continuing the Greens’ longstanding support for a peaceful resolution of the Tibetan situation, Mr. Byrne pledged to actively promote the human rights and democratic freedoms of the Tibetan people if elected and to represent the needs of the Tibetans in his electorate.

As of Monday 9 August we have not received a response from Hon Anthony Albanese MP or Liberal candidate Alexander Dore to our request for a meeting before the election.

Sam Byrne will be debating Anthony Albanese at 6.00pm on Wednesday 18 August at Marrickville Town Hall.