The independent ACT politician has only been in the job for a few months but he’s already making moves that are making waves.
Politics was ingrained in the Zimbabwe-born David Pocock as Robert Mugabe’s policies dispossessed white landowners.It’s been four months since the now-Senator Pocock – former Wallabies captain, environmentalist, feminist, activist, outspoken marriage equality advocate –from one of two ACT Senate spots that had been held by the Liberals for 47 years.
“Ultimately, I could see myself one or two years after the election wondering about what could have been. That was enough to realise if I was thinking that way, then it’s something I’d have to have a crack at. And if I fail, well, I would’ve learned a lot.” The story of David Pocock’s early years has been told many times. David Willmer Pocock is the eldest of three sons born to Zimbabwean farmers Jane and Andy Pocock. Alongside his grandfather and uncle, they lived on a 2800-hectare property in Gweru when he was young, where they grew vegetables and flowers and ran cattle.
“There was this real casualness in Australia that I found really hard to get my head around. Teachers had nicknames and they seemed to like it, which was mind-blowing,” he says. “And I had this sense of arriving in Perth at 17, not knowing anyone and having this dream to play professional rugby and having this moment when I realised, ‘Hang on, I have to figure out what I actually believe for myself’. You inherit all these beliefs from your family and it’s like, ‘What do I actually believe and what do I value?’”“Not really. I found her fascinating, but it definitely wasn’t love at first sight. We were friends for a good year or so before. I’m glad we had that time.
Pocock entered the fray all guns blazing, saying Albanese could not rely on his vote on critical legislation. In the end, he and the two One Nation senators got an additional adviser. “One of the things we heard during the election was that voting for independents was voting for chaos. But if you look at most Nordic countries, they seem to not only do [alliances] well, but get really good policy outcomes because they have to negotiate and listen to different voices and perspectives.”
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