- Age: 31.
- Family: Six biological children Paige, 12, Kaidey, 10, Brandon, 6, Jacob, 5, and Gemma, 3, Chloe, 2, and cares for her three siblings Crystal, 19, Niketa, 17, and Nora, 16.
- Occupation: Stay at home mother of nine children studying human nutrition.
- Address: Gordon. Lived in ACT for 29 years.
- Political experience: First-time candidate.
The major parties are failing to give the Australian people a voice and Rise Up Australia ACT Senate candidate Sandie O'Connor hopes to redress the issue.
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The first-time candidate, and stay at home mother, says the party stands firm on several "controversial issues" of the day which were bound to have law changes under either major party including same-sex marriage.
"There is a majority of us that do not want those laws to go through and I want to be that voice for those people," she says. "I oppose same-sex marriage; I don't oppose people's lifestyles in general."
She is also concerned about the Safe Schools program, which she feels is not age-appropriate for schoolchildren, a belief she feels is shared by much of the community.
"I've been reading up on the curriculum for it and I don't like it at all, I'd like to see it completely abolished and maybe a more age-appropriate, non-provocative program put in place," she says. "They're the two issues on my heart at this moment."
While she admits the party has copped flak she believes its policies will resonate with ACT voters.
"We welcome and love all ethnic backgrounds into Australia, it's incorrect that we're racist," she says.
"We want all people, we actually say welcome, welcome, welcome but we stand firm on the Australian culture and want to keep that strong. We want everyone to come here and adapt to that culture and stand as one."
Around the country, members of the party have been outspoken against the building of mosques, but O'Connor says she doesn't expect it to deter voters.
"I'm hearing on both hands depending on how you take it … I hope people will see it is in the best interests of the people not to go ahead with the building of mosques and bringing in things such as the Sharia law," she says.
"It's very difficult for the Muslim culture to integrate because the Koran states that they cannot be friends with anyone who isn't Muslim.
"[But] I don't want to focus on this … we love the Muslim people, we welcome them here, but we want them to come and respect the laws of Australia and assimilate together and obey the laws that are here."
While she acknowledges Australia was colonised by Europeans with a mix of cultures, she says its Judeo-Christian foundation that has caused "the land to flourish" should be retained.
"I know there's a lot of talk about the separation of church and state but that original talk didn't mean that Christians' morals should stay completely out of the political arena," she says.
"We're not forcing any religion on anyone or saying you have to live in any certain way, everyone has their own privacy and own life and way of living."
