He has a provocative stance on investment in wind and solar energy.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He has a radical position on upgraded transport options.
He's pushing - thrusting quite vigorously, actually - for a greater focus on mental health.
Political candidates from the major parties may be just going through the motions.
But Alex Dyson is really going through the motions.
The independent candidate has outlined his federal election policies through the medium of interpretive dance.
Yes, interpretive dance.
And it may well be the only moment of glorious joy in this whole dreary election campaign.
The former Triple J radio host, known to his listeners as Rat Dog, is running as an independent in what he calls his "spiritual home seat" of Wannon in South-West Victoria.
It's traditionally a safe Liberal electorate and is currently held by Minister for Education Dan Tehan.
In an interview with this local newspaper, The Standard in Warrnambool, where he grew up, Dyson told journalist Rachael Houlihan "there seems to be an upswell of support for sensible independents".
There's certainly been an upswell of support for Dyson on social media since his one-minute "policy" video went viral this week.
His clip has attracted tens of thousands of views, likes and comments on Instagram and Facebook.
To the rousing electronic beat of Alice Ivy's chilled anthem Charlie, from her 2018 album I'm Dreaming, a suited Dyson brings a bit of ballet, a touch of disco and a whole lot of sweet, sweet moshpit mania to the big-picture issues of the 2019 election.
On the environment, renewable energy, transport and mental health, he shows more energy, passion and purpose on that cold-looking jetty than anything we've seen so far in this campaign from Scott Morrison or Bill Shorten.
Yes, Dyson goes straight to the pool room of Aussie pollies who strictly can't dance - right up there with the likes of Peter Costello, Pauline Hanson, Clive Palmer and Craig Emerson.
But, boy, does he own his Todd McKenney-meets-Peter Garrett-meets-Napoleon Dynamite mash-up - right up to his crazy-brave plunge into the oil-slicked waters of Warrnambool.
Dyson would need a substantial swing to win on May 18.
But he says he will be happy if his tilt encourages more young Australians to pay closer attention to the political process.
"I am a 30-year-old Australian, and yet haven't voted in a federal election where the new prime minister has governed for a full term," he said.
"No wonder voters are disillusioned. It's dire, but I want to do my best to re-illusion them."
