NSW VOTES

been developed like the Gold Coast and doesn’t have the exclusiveness of Byron and so being able to preserve the natural places and amount of growth we’re going to see in the next few decades, to make sure that we’re building houses for people but it’s not at the whim of developers while preserving as much of the natural environment as we can is vital,” she added.

With some pundits predicting a swing to the ALP-Greens, Ciara Denham is excited about the upcoming election day.

“The Greens are always about adding that extra voice so that the other parties are pushed to make better commitments, it’s so important,” she said. Also running in the state seat of Tweed: Ronald McDONALD, Sustainable Australia Party, Stop Overdevelopment/ Corruption: Marc SELAN, Legalise Cannabis Party: Susie HEARDER, Animal Justice Party.

In Ballina

In the divergent Ballina electorate – stretching from Wardell, north to Crabbes Creek and west of Alstonville - incumbent Greens member, Tamara Smith notes it’s been “a really tough few years” but she’s not giving up yet, running for her third term in office.

“It’s unfinished business,” Tamara Smith, Ballina MP told The

Northern Rivers Times.

She says at the top of her agenda is seeing the next stage of Government funding under the Buyback scheme, “worth hundreds of millions of dollars” rolled out, including to communities like West Ballina, Wardell, South Golden Beach, and Brunswick Heads, where people are still struggling.

“And over the next 4 years, having a Greens MP on the cross bench will be very useful,” she said.

Tamara Smith noted across her electorate in particular – with ‘housing crisis epicentres’ like Byron Bay, Mullumbimby, Bangalow, and Ballina – homelessness remains a big, unresolved issue, pointing also to The Greens policy that 30 percent of all new housing developments include an affordable housing component.

“We just need commitment to this, from whoever forms government.”

“Our people are feeling it much more than the rest of the state. And there are solutions,” Tamara Smith, Ballina MP said.

On the key ground of the environment, Ms. Smith believes society is firmly “at a crossroads” on climate, wanting coal mining phased out and more investment in renewable energy. he hopes to walk the talk under a Minns Labor Government. improving the health of the Richmond River” and the ‘health’ of the Ballina District Hospital, also affected by floods last year.

She also feels the community now wants a more progressive path for New South Wales.

“We’re quietly confident but we never take that for granted. If I am voted out, then I haven’t done enough,” Tamara Smith, The Greens Ballina MP said.

Booyens, The Nationals candidate for Ballina said.

Mr Booyens said he’d received great support from former, longstanding Ballina MP Don Page and Ben Franklin, MLC and would use 20 years’ experience in the banking and finance sector, plus his time as a musician with the Lismore Symphony Orchestra, to guide a term in office.

“The skills I’ve learnt, negotiating and delivery are what I can bring the strength to the role of representing the people of Ballina,” Josh Booyens said.

“Ballina will have a much stronger voice if its local representative is a member of the government,” Andrew Broadley told The Northern Rivers Times.

“Putting the focus back into health, in the town of Ballina,” he said.

In his first tilt at office, Josh Booyens – who was “raised a National” from his farming background – is raring to go.

“I’m effective, I’m energetic and I’m engaged,” Josh Booyens, The Nationals candidate for Ballina said.

“What we need is effective representation for the people of Ballina who haven’t had that for the last 8 years,” he added.

Mr Booyens told The Northern Rivers Times flood mitigation is key to rebuilding a shattered community after the floods, particularly in and around Ballina.

“The drains are blocked, the rivers are silted up and yet The Greens can’t deliver.”

“I want to cut through the green tape stopping flood mitigation efforts in the electorate,” Josh

He hopes those skills might bring all 3 levels of government to the table on the complex issue of local housing affordability, availability, and taxation, particularly in the Ballina electorate.

Josh is confident a Perrotet Government will be returned in New South Wales and is “loving it” on the campaign trail.

“It just reinforces my love for people and where we live. I’ve spoken to thousands of people and the problems are broad and complex.”

“But geez, we’ve got some great people here, it’s not a disaster, it’s a healthy society that lives here,” Josh Booyens, The Nationals Ballina candidate said.

Andrew Broadley knew he had to run in the seat of Ballina after watching the example set by Lismore Labor MP, Janelle Saffin, post-flood. Now, as the election inches closer,

Fundamental to Andrew Broadley’s local campaign are the fundamentals of the Australian Labor Pary: Housing, Education and Health, specifically:

Better education - fully fund every public school with the Labor ‘Education Future Fund’, convert 10,000 temporary teachers to permanent roles and scrap the wages cap, enabling pay rises.

Better Health Care - safe staffing for public hospitals, 500 new paramedics to the regions, and paying our nurses, paramedics, and healthcare workers what they are worth.

Affordable HousingAny properties built on surplus government land will be subject to Labor’s mandatory requirement of 30% of dwellings to be used for social, affordable, and universal housing.

Plus, a shift toward publicly-owned clean energy.

Andrew Broadley is also “passionate about

Over the hours spent door-knocking from south to north of the electorate, Andrew Broadley believes one message is constant: ‘the need for change,’ but acknowledges it’s a tight contest in the seat of Ballina. With his family – including his just-turned 18-year-old son – beside him this Saturday, he’s supported, inspired - and busy.

“I’m planning to visit all 22 polling booths from the North of the electorate to the South, to meet voters and thank our volunteers,” Andrew Broadley Ballina ALP candidate said.

Kevin Loughrey, Independent

This self-described “very practical person with a good track record of success” believes it’s his unique role, to represent the interests and concerns of the constituents of Ballina whom he says have not been heard under the current political continued page 8 arrangement.

“I’m beholden to them,” Kevin Loughrey, Ballina Independent candidate said.

This former Lieutenant Colonel in the Australian Army bases his campaign on six key planks: Reducing the cost of electricity and halving the cost of fuel; Building dams to reduce flooding and provide water & food security; Preventing the Government from interfering with the patient’s relationship with a doctor; Ensuring all Australians, regardless of race or gender, are treated exactly the same under the law and entitled