Albury candidates for the 2023 NSW election
The state candidates for Albury have been revealed with some explaining their top priorities in the lead up to the NSW election day.
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In less than a week, Albury residents will cast their vote on who will lead the region’s next chapter in politics.
As March 25 approaches, campaigns are in full swing with seven candidates vying for the seat currently held by Liberal MP Justin Clancy.
The candidates putting up their hands to represent the people of Albury have revealed their top priorities should they get elected. Here is what they had to say.
Eli Davern – Greens
Why are you running?
During my campaign for Farrer last year, I met so many people who are in desperate need of profound change. The uni student who can’t find somewhere affordable to live, the grandmother who can’t afford dental bills and the nurse who sits in her car after work in tears because of understaffing and poor conditions. The Greens have plans to address the issues people in NSW are facing and build a better future for all of us.
How long have you lived in the electorate/area?
I’ve lived in Albury all my life and I’ve seen first hand the issues our community is facing, from the housing crisis to shortages in education and healthcare. I know our community, I love our community and I’m ready to serve our community.
What is your final pitch to voters?
Your vote is powerful and by voting 1 Greens, you are sending a message to the major parties that you are demanding change. With your vote, you can deliver action on the housing crisis, support our healthcare workers and provide real support to those doing it tough in Albury.
What will you do to help the housing/cost of living crisis in Albury?
The Greens will address the housing crisis by building more affordable, social and public housing, particularly in regional NSW. On top of that, we’ll control rents and ban unfair evictions to give renters real security. We’ll slash energy bills by bringing the energy grid back into public ownership and scrap the public sector wage cap, giving nurses, midwives, paramedics and teachers a pay rise.
Asanki Fernando – Animal Justice Party
Why are you running?
Albury is a diverse community yet, sadly, we don’t see local political candidates represent female voters or voters from a diverse community. This lack of representation is what motivated me to run as a candidate for Albury. Albury also has a growing population of young voters who feel like their voices aren’t being heard, especially when it comes to local issues that young voters face (eg climate change, casual workers rights, rental crisis). I am running for parliament to represent these voters and to bring both human and animal issues to parliament. I strongly believe a kinder world is possible for both humans and animals.
How long have you lived in the electorate/area?
I moved to this region nine years ago and have since fallen in love with what this beautiful region has to offer.
What is your final pitch to voters?
Albury is growing rapidly and we have a crisis in several essential areas – housing, healthcare, education, environment. Everyone has the right to a safe and secure home, so I will introduce more affordable housing as an urgent priority. I have been a renter in Albury for nearly 10 years so I’ve experienced this crisis first-hand.
This needs to be done sustainably – we must protect local wildlife habitat, because they deserve safe and secure homes too. We also need wildlife corridors and wildlife-friendly roads, with over- and underpasses, so we have fewer collisions impacting both humans, animals and property.
Having worked in healthcare, I recognise the need for better pay for our essential workers. In particular, I will increase pay rates for our teachers and healthcare workers, and we need a new public hospital for our rapidly growing population.
What will you do to help the housing/cost of living crisis in Albury?
I would seek to provide more affordable housing and protect renters’ rights, including their right to have companion animals with them. I support an introduction to Veticare – like Medicare but for animals. Being on a low income shouldn’t mean your companion animals suffer. I would also seek to ban backyard breeding and puppy farms and instead provide more funding to support local rescue services for both companion animals, which are currently at capacity due to victims of the rental crisis, and wildlife rehabilitation services.
Marcus Rowland – Labor
Marcus Rowland is running for the Labor Party and was contacted for comment, however did not respond.
Ross Hamilton – Sustainable Australia Party
Why are you running?
I am running because the Albury hospital does not meet the needs of the community and the proposed redevelopment does nothing to address these shortcomings. I am also running to de-corrupt politics in NSW and implement sustainable solutions for our future. I will protect our environment, stop overdevelopment and stop corruption.
How long have you lived in the electorate/area?
This year marks six years since I moved to Albury.
What is your final pitch to voters?
No other candidate is standing up for a hospital that will suit the needs of Albury and surrounds. If you would like to send a message to Sydney that this isn't good enough, pop a 1 next to my name when you go to vote.
What will you do to help the housing/cost of living crisis in Albury?
The same way Robert Menzies managed it in the 1950s. The only way in history housing affordability has been solved is with a public housing developer that builds and then sells housing to first time home buyers at a discount, giving them a lower rung to step on to the property ladder. It worked before in Australia, it worked in Singapore and it can work again now. We also need to stop government-engineered hyper demand. This would be done through the abolition of negative gearing, the phase out of capital gains tax concessions, banning foreign ownership and stabilising Australia’s population.
Justin Clancy – Liberals
Justin Clancy is the Liberal member for Albury and was contacted for comment, however did not respond.
Peter Sinclair – Shooters, farmers and fishers party
Peter Sinclair is running for the Shooters, fishers and farmers party and was contacted for comment, however did not respond.
Geoffrey Robertson – Liberal Democrats
Why are you running?
Net Zero is a destructive set of policies that will destroy our agriculture industry and result in the forced removal of farmers from their lands. Agriculture is a fundamental pillar of our country and I am standing to save us all from the madness of Net Zero.
How long have you lived in the electorate/area?
I have lived and worked around Tamworth for many years. My affinity with the land brings the necessary knowledge and understanding to provide the leadership and direction needed at this critical stage in Australia’s future direction.
What is your final pitch to voters?
Net Zero policies destroy vast tracts of land and fauna whilst still need a backup energy supply thus doubling the amount of infrastructure needed and crippling supply.
Net Zero CO2 means Net Zero you.
What will you do to help the housing/cost of living crisis in Albury?
Cheap reliable energy is the key to providing wealth and prosperity to all Australians. I will fight to awaken people from the delusion of Anthropogenic Global Warming and go nuclear.
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