David Winderlich is an Australian teacher

Teacher

A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...

, public servant and politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

 who in 2009 was appointed to fill a casual vacancy in the South Australian Legislative Council

South Australian Legislative Council

The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the House of Assembly...

 following the November 2008 resignation of Australian Democrats

Australian Democrats

The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader...

 member Sandra Kanck

Sandra Kanck

Sandra Myrtho Kanck is a South Australian politician. She was an Australian Democrats member of the South Australian Legislative Council 1993-2009, and at the time of the announcement of her resignation in November 2008, her party's sole remaining member of any Australian parliament...

. Being the last Democrat to have sat in any Australian parliament, he is notable mainly for having resigned from the party after sitting for only 9 months, and continuing as an independent. He was defeated at the 2010 election.

Ultimatum and policy interests

On 20 July 2009 Winderlich announced that, unless 1,000 new members joined the Democrats SA division by 23 November, he would leave the party and sit as an independent, which eventuated on 7 October 2009.

Winderlich announced that, as an independent, he would focus on three policy areas: governmental reform, rights and freedoms, e.g., for bikies

Outlaw motorcycle club

An outlaw motorcycle club is a type of motorcycle club that is part of a subculture with roots in the post-World War II USA, centered on cruiser motorcycles, particularly Harley-Davidsons and choppers, and a set of ideals celebrating freedom, nonconformity to mainstream culture, and loyalty to the...

, and a sustainable approach to the management of water resources in South Australia. In particular, he was opposed to the Port Stanvac Desalination Plant

Port Stanvac Desalination Plant

The Port Stanvac Desalination plant is a SWRO desalination plant currently under construction at Lonsdale, South Australia which will provide the city of Adelaide with a significant amount of drinking water...

 and to the Wellington Weir

Wellington Weir

Wellington Weir is a proposed weir on the River Murray at or near the town of Wellington, South Australia, not far upstream from where the river flows into Lake Alexandrina....

 proposal.

External links

• Radio interview (mp3 download from Radio Adelaide
  Radio Adelaide
  Radio Adelaide is Australia's first community radio station; established by Adelaide University in 1972. It broadcasts from street front studios on North Terrace, Adelaide...
  
  )