The first enterprising miners – self-employed small businessmen in their own right – recognised that excessive taxation limited their capacity to earn a living. 

We as locals know that the true origins of uprisings on the goldfields in the early 1850s – the monster meeting at Forest Creek between Castlemaine and Chewton, the Red Ribbon Rebellion in Bendigo and Eureka in Ballarat – were to stand up against increases in taxation and licence fees. 

By the time of ERBendigo and Mount Alexander joined thousands of others on the goldfields of Ballarat where they swore by the Southern Cross “to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties”. 

Less than half a century later, Bendigo miner turned journalist and lawyer (Sir) John Quick was central in bringing together the six colonies as the Commonwealth of Australia.

The modern battleground against excessive taxation is in our local communities, where families tell me every day that the carbon tax imposed by the current government is increasing their cost of living expenses, and small businesses are seeing profitability fall and local jobs put at greater risk. As a champion of democracy and the local Liberal candidate, I can assure readers that I am committed to repealing the carbon tax and restoring hope, reward and opportunity across our communities. 

Greg Bickley

Liberal candidate for Bendigo