All Greens: Byron mayor Jan Barham, Richmond candidate Joe Ebono, Ballina councillor Jeff Johnson and NSW MP Lee Rhannon. Photo Jeff ‘Kermit’ Dawson

NSW Greens MP and lead Senate candidate Lee Rhiannon will joined local Greens on Sunday in the Mullumbimby Civic Hall to announce local publisher and author Joe Ebono as the Greens candidate for the federal seat of Richmond. Joe ran as Giovanni Ebono in the 2007 election and scored 15 per cent of the vote.
‘It is a great privilege to be the Greens candidate for Richmond,’ Mr Ebono said in a press release.

‘I plan to improve on the Greens’ strong showing in 2007, and provide local residents a real alternative to Justine Elliot and her Labor government.
‘Unlike the old parties, the Greens understand that aged care is about more than bed numbers. Aged care is about maintaining links with the community.

‘Community consultation is at the core of Greens policies and initiatives to build a sustainable future for an energy challenged world. Greens policies and values get a lot of traction in Northeast NSW where issues such as unemployment, rampant development and protecting the environment are very important to people.’
Sitting Labor MP Justine Elliott holds Richmond with a comfortable margin after a swing away from the Nationals in 2007.

Her other challengers include the Richmond Nationals chairman Alan Hunter, Liberals Jan Van Lieshout, and independents Nic Faulkner and Matthew Hartley.
New MP Julia Gillard has said she will call the election before the end of the year.
ABC pundit Antony Green is predicting a win to Ms Elliott with a margin of 8.9 per cent.