ONE Nation is looking for a candidate to run for the seat of Tamworth in the upcoming state election, with controversial NSW party leader Mark Latham expected to visit the region in the new year.
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Mr Latham is a former federal Labor leader, but since his return to politics he has reinvented himself as a firebrand conservative and will stand for One Nation in the upper house.
He believes there is a mood for change in state’s regional seats, and has put the call out for potential candidates in the electorate to put their hand up.
“After huge swings in the Orange and Wagga Wagga by-elections, it is clear country people feel neglected by the Berejiklian government,” Mr Latham said.
“Pauline Hanson’s One Nation wants to overcome this neglect with positive solutions, especially during this testing time of drought.
“I see One Nation as a party of action, determined to get on with the job for people neglected by the Sydney-centric major parties.
“I want to hear from civic leaders and the local community about its priorities for changes in NSW government policy.”
If the party entered a Tamworth candidate, they would join incumbent Nationals MP Kevin Anderson, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party’s Jeff Bacon, Labor’s Stephen Mears and independent Mark Rodda.
The Greens are also expected to stand for the seat.
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Polling by The Sydney Herald revealed One Nation has a primary vote of 7.5 per cent statewide, while internal Coalition research indicates minor parties could secure as much as 20 per cent of the primary vote in some seats.
One Nation alone is polling in the “low double digits” in some areas.
“Parties change and evolve over time,” Mr Latham said.
“The One Nation I’ve joined is pro-merit and anti-discrimination, supporting the traditional Australian of a fair go.
“Big policy changes are needed to put commonsense back into NSW politics. That’s what I’ll be advocating on behalf of One Nation as we campaign for the March 23 election.”