The first ‘meet the candidates’ event for the Ballina electorate will take place at the Macadamia Castle, in Knockrow, on Monday night.
The RSVP-only event is being organised by a new northern rivers business organisation, calling itself the Sourdough Group.
The upcoming NSW state elections promise to be very interesting and few electorates more so than Ballina, the group says.
With the retirement of long-serving member Don Page and the loss of his formidable personal following it is a real possibility that the Nationals will suffer a loss-inducing swing against them.
The last election the result (in rounded figures) was: Nationals 57 per cent; Greens 22 per cent; and ALP 12 per cent.
With the Abbott federal government having had a significant effect on the Victorian and Queensland state election results, further pressure will be on Nationals candidate Kris Beavis.
The group expects Greens candidate Tamara Smith and the ALP’s Paul Spooner to exchange preferences, meaning there could very well be the first real contest for the seat of Ballina in decades.
The Sourdough Group says it is ‘committed to economic development leading to prosperity and jobs’ and is eager to find out how the candidates measure up to their philosophy.The event will take place Macadamia Castle in Knockrow on Monday, March 2, at 5pm for a 5.30pm start. Drinks are available to purchase prior to event.
MC Chris Hanley will be asking the three main candidates a series of questions about making local businesses more sustainable, removing red tape and stimulating the economy.
It was unclear at the time of writing whether the two independent candidates for Ballina, Matt Hartley and Jeff Johnson, had been invited.
To register to attend this free event, contact Paul Jameson: [email protected]
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