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SITTING Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson was yesterday rated six out of 10 on a new website launched by NSW Farmers that ranks MPs on their performance with rural issues.
At 5pm yesterday, New England MP Adam Marshall was rated eight out of 10, while Barwon MP Kevin Humphries was rated five.
Mr Anderson’s rating had crept up by two points by 1.25pm yesterday, after sitting at three out of 10 at 9am, while Mr Marshall’s started at seven out of 10 early in the morning, and Mr Humphries’ fell from a top of six points.
The new website, which allows the public to rate MPs ahead of the March 28 election, went live on Monday night – but the campaign’s official state launch will be tomorrow at the “meet the candidates” evening in Tamworth.
The campaign, called Stand Up For Farmers, is a grassroots push to give country NSW voters a voice on the issues affecting rural and regional communities.
It aims to mobilise voters across NSW to “stand up, shout out and be heard” in the lead-up to the election.
Campaign spokesman and CEO of NSW Farmers Matt Brand said country NSW was an important economic contributor to the state.
“But too often they are taken for granted. Their economic interests, local infrastructure and community needs all deserve focused investment,” Mr Brand said.
He said the more people who joined the campaign and rated a politician, the more influence country NSW would have in the election.
“This campaign puts all sitting MPs and candidates on notice: country NSW will not be overlooked,” Mr Brand said.
“Stand Up For Farmers is a platform for country NSW to be heard on issues like drought, investment, farmers’ rights and farmgate profits.”
NSW Farmers is a membership-based organisation that advocates on behalf of farmers in NSW and ACT; it is not aligned to any candidate or political party.
The website is at www.standupforfarmers.com.au
Voters will have the chance to meet local candidates at the meeting from 6.30pm tomorrow at the Tamworth Golf Club.
It is part of a series of NSW Farmers “meet the candidates” sessions being held across NSW prior to the election.
Mr Anderson, NSW Greens candidate Pat Schultz, independent Peter Draper and Country Labor candidate Joe Hillard will all be there.
A panel session with the candidates will start at 7.30pm, which will include questions and answers from the floor.
It is a dinner event.
To RSVP, call Stuart Murdoch on 0427 437 103 or email him at murdochs@nswfarmers.org.au