Mandy Nolan is about to embark on a new career as a politician – she has put her hat in the ring to run for Richmond in the hope of overturning Justine Elliot’s position and making the seat Green.
Comedian, author, journalist and fierce community activist, Mandy has today been confirmed as the Greens candidate for Richmond, a marginal seat in the Greens heartland on the Far North Coast encompassing Byron Bay.
Richmond also covers the state seat of Ballina which became the Greens first regional seat in 2015 and in 2019 saw a 4.7% increase in Greens first preference votes.
Mandy Nolan is a local celebrity who has lived, worked and campaigned in the region for over three decades. She has been a vocal campaigner on the housing crisis on the North Coast which has the highest rate of homelessness in NSW and is the author of a weekly column in The Echo.
Politics no joke
Ms Nolan says she may be a comedian, but politics is no joke. ‘I’m putting myself forward because I want to see our politics deliver for the people, not big donors and corporations.’
‘For 30 years I’ve fought to give a voice to the voiceless in our community, now I’m going to take that fight to Canberra.
‘Richmond needs a local member who is serious about tackling the issues facing this region in a time of intense change.
Ms Nolan says we are seeing unprecedented growth. ‘We’ve got tourism, AirBnB and big tech transforming our region. We’re seeing millions of dollars pouring into luxury homes and meanwhile, we’ve got the highest rate of homelessness in NSW. On top of that, we are already facing the impacts of climate change through serious flooding, coastal erosion and bushfires.
‘We need to tackle these issues head-on before it’s too late, and it has to be driven by the interests of the community, not developers.
Greens leader Adam Bandt MP
Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP says that at the coming election, Richmond voters are some of the most powerful in the country. ‘The next federal election will be very close and by voting for Mandy Nolan, people will get a powerful local MP right in the middle of Parliament.
‘Mandy will fight to make the big corporations and billionaires pay their fair share of tax so that we can get rid of public school fees and put dental into Medicare. Mandy’s a long-time local who won’t take crap from anyone and will really shake things up in Canberra.’
Mandy says Australia needs leaders that represent their community, not their corporate donors. ‘The Greens don’t take donations from corporations trying to buy influence, so by voting to put a Greens MP in Parliament, you’re sending a message to the Nationals and Labor that inaction on the climate crisis and skyrocketing economic inequality isn’t good enough.’
GREAT NEWS so Excited. I will definitely vote for Mandy we so desperately need fire and passion in politics and people who genuinely care for our community. GO MANDY.!!!
Awesome!
You’ve got my vote, Mandy.
Awesome. All the best Mandy
I can only hope that Mandy, if elected, will prove to be a better representative of her constituents than the dismal mob currently in power in Byron Shire.
Great article on Mandy Nolan, Federal Greens candidate. Is Justine Elliott going to stand again? Good to see where she stands now that Mandy has declared
Go Mandy!
That’s a turn up…a Comedian Running for an MP…rather than a Poltician running & turning INTO A Clown
Hilarious, best joke I’ve heard in years
Amazing. Thank you Mandy for standing up for Richmond. Enough is enough with those 2 major parties of crooks and liars. Something has to change.
Funny how the Green controlled area’s have the highest rate of homelessness. Surely they see that they are creating this housing crisis.
Go Mandy Go!
Mandy is just looking for new comedy material. What better place to find it than a circus, which is what our parliaments have become.
Thank you Mandy for the massive commitment you are making.. a person with true right intention
Mandy sitting a couple of metres from Pauline…Hilarious.
Different chambers.
Thank you Mandy for standing fir this position. We need someone just like you in Canberra. Honest, driven by values and real care for our population and our environment. You will certainly have my vote!
Go Mandy! Go Greens! You’ve got my full support. Best news in years. Canberra will love Mandy, seriously. Such a fresh energy is so needed, though the trogdalytes will croak and splutter. Oh what fun!
How about taking it to the conservatives in a Nat controlled seat rather than divide the progressive vote? I suppose great comedy like Life of Brian, who are we trying to kick out?
Yes Rod, I’m not an ALP supporter, but the loss of Richmond may just help save the dodgy LNP bacon. Really love that idea!!
A seat going from Labor to Green in no way helps the LNP. In fact, it’s even worse for the Coalition as the Greens are the party that opposes their agenda more than any other, including Labor who regularly team up with the LNP.
Yay! You have my vote Mandy.
Please, please, please let Mandy hold the balance of power in a hung parliament. Please, please, please! Go Mandy!
The Greens for Richmond would be idea. Love to see it. You have my support and vote. As First Nations family committed to sustainability, soft living, land lore and eco before ego. We stand with you.