Andrew Broadley has been named the NSW Labor candidate for Ballina for the March 2023 election.
According to Labor’s press release, Mr Broadley is a teacher at Richmond River High in Lismore, and lives in East Ballina with his wife Leanne and their four children.
The NSW electorate of Ballina encompasses Ballina and Byron shires.
He joins a field including incumbent Greens MP, Tamara Smith, and first time Nationals candidate, Josh Booyens.
Labor say their members gathered on Sunday for the announcement, along wth Justine Elliot, federal Assistant Minister and federal Member for Richmond; Janelle Saffin, State Member for Lismore; and John Graham MLC, NSW Shadow Minister for the North Coast.
Andrew Broadley said it was an honour to be nominated as the Labor candidate.
‘I’d not really considered entering politics, until the floods, until I saw [Labor MP] Janelle Saffin in action.
‘How can you not be inspired by that level of commitment? I saw someone, up close, give everything for her community. I thought, that’s what Ballina needs – someone who will put our community first.
‘With four very active teenagers, most of my community activity has been supporting their involvement in sports and the arts, and I know how important these volunteer organisations are in our community’.
River rehab passion
Broadley adds, ‘But my personal passion is getting hands on to help river rehabilitation, it’s so satisfying to know that you are making a real difference in our local environment’.
‘It’s hard not to be impressed by Justine, and our new federal Labor government, so much has been accomplished in the first six months, after a decade of inaction. [This includes] Action on early childhood education, climate, an Integrity Commission, improving wages and much more.’
‘Like all of you, I was appalled when the [federal] National Party politicised flood grants and abandoned those families seriously impacted in Byron and Ballina shires’.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
