“Conservative alternative”.
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It’s a phrase that’s been popping up more and more recently in our region’s political landscape.
It’s a term candidates are labelling themselves with to distinguish themselves from the region’s political powerhouse, the Nationals, who are well known for their conservative leanings.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Jeff Bacon and Mark Rodda have both referred to themselves a “conservative alternative” to the National Party.
One Nation, while yet to enter a candidate for the Tamworth electorate, have also been throwing the term around at both a state and federal level.
But what does all this mean? Why is it important?
The people using this term are trying to tap in to what they believe is a growing disillusionment with the status quo – which in the Tamworth electorate is the Nationals – while showing they still share the same traditional values so often favoured in regional politics.
The fact that multiple parties are all targeting a similar vein of voters would suggest there is some truth to the belief.
With everyone trying to get the same piece of the pie, the flow of preferences could determine the victor – but of the self-labelled conservatives, it’s extremely difficult to tell where they’ll direct their preferences (if they do at all).
Mark Rodda may wish to retain his independent status and refuse to tell voters what to do with their preferences.
If Jeff Bacon preferences Rodda, he’ll be hurting his own chances, and given his rhetoric, preferencing incumbent Nationals MP Kevin Anderson is out of the question.
And Mr Anderson is unlikely to preference either candidates, given they are his biggest rivals.
Labor’s Stephen Mears is the exception, and who he chooses to direct his preferences to could make a noticeable difference.
It’s very possible that most candidates will encourage voters to “Just Vote 1”.
Whether you use your preference vote or not, the choice is in your hands.