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One of the former stalwarts of the Liberal Party in Canberra has decided to stand in the ACT elections to "keep the bastards honest". One-time Liberal member of the ACT legislative assembly Bill Stefaniak said he would come out of political retirement to stand for his old electorate of Ginninderra at the territory election in October - but for his own, newly-created party. Mr Stefaniak said he is "fundamentally interested in Canberra getting good governance". He said he would, if elected, do his best to "keep the bastards honest'" "Over the last few years, I have been increasingly concerned that this Labor Green Government has neglected large parts of Canberra, including Belconnen," he said. Mr Stefaniak was an MLA on the Liberal ticket until ten years ago but has now decided to set up his own party to be called "the Belco Party (ACT)". READ MORE: The former solicitor said he had "extensive life experience" and "practical common sense". He was born and educated in Canberra (Narrabundah High School) and graduated from the Australian National University. He is not to be trifled with. His previous Liberal party biography says he has played rugby and been a major in the Australian Army Reserve. His recreation was described as "recreational shooting". The profile said he had "worked with the Liberal Party in its Federal and ACT campaigns since his student days at the Australian National University." He became an MLA in 1989 and held a series of posts, including ACT minister of education. In May, 2006, he became leader of the Opposition. He had a heart attack while driving in 2016. Once characterised as the "sort of Liberal you could imagine would share a beer with a unionist", he quit the Assembly in 2008 to take up a position as the appeals president of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Now he hopes to come back. "Together with a number of like-minded supporters I am helping in the process of forming a new party to properly service the needs of Belconnen residents - to be called the Belco Party (ACT). "The new party will be dedicated to ensuring accountability and good governance for the ACT."

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