Joining just in time are Philip Langfield from the Christian Democratic Party, independent candidate Brian Mills, Carl Kendall from Sustainable Australia, Keep Sydney Open candidate Liam Davies and Country Labor’s Alan Purtill.
Also confirmed in the race for the local seat are Nationals incumbent Austin Evans, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers’ Helen Dalton, One Nation’s Tom Weyrich, independent David Landini and Nivanka De Silva from the Greens.
Newcomer Alan Purtill is still reeling — he only discovered he would be running for Country Labor last Friday when the initial candidate dropped out.
But having been a Labor stalwart, Balranald mayor for 10 years and in local government since 1982, he’s no stranger to the political scene.
‘‘We’ll be mainly looking at infrastructure in western NSW, because the rivers and roads are all deteriorating,’’ he said.
‘‘I also plan to dispute the plans for $2 billion upgrades to stadiums in Sydney. It’s ridiculous that money is being spent and yet infrastructure in country NSW is suffering.’’
Born and bred in Griffith, independent candidate Brian Mills has five years in politics under his belt, having contested the seat of Murray in the 2015 state election and 2017 Murray by-election and the seat of Farrer in the 2016 federal election.
Armed with a hefty list of 27 policies, his principal focus is tackling the water crisis.
‘‘Many people say the main problem with the Darling River is the huge over-allocation of water licences.
‘‘And so my policy is that no pump should be allowed to operate above the lower Darling unless there is downstream water flow. Now how simple and logical is that?’’
More details in next week’s Riv.
11°C