Much has been made of recent commitments from the Nationals, Liberal and Teal candidates to partially fund a new water treatment plant for Narrandera, increase medical services in the shire and improve water management under the Murray Darling Basin Plan. As with any commitment made during an election, they remain subject to two conditions. One is to be a member of the government and the other is to be able to prosecute the case effectively in what is a very competitive market for state and federal funding. None of the candidates for the Farrer by-election will form part of the federal government or sit in the same party as the state government. As a result you need someone who can effectively argue the needs of the shire. This will not be an easy exercise for whoever is elected given that many of the voices at a federal level are either not interested in rural or remote concerns, or are simply focused on policy settings that might benefit those living and working in urban Australia but are less than practical in a rural setting. This difference is especially stark when looking at water policy, rural health services and fit-for-purpose infrastructure. When a member of the Australian parliament says that we don't need to support primary production because we have supermarkets, you know you're in trouble. Of the Farrer candidates only David Farley is living the Narrandera experience. His understanding of primary production and water management from an operational and policy perspective as well as the positive impact that immigration can have in our regions when managed effectively isn't matched by the other candidates. He has shown the political nous not to take current funding for granted but to accept the realities associated with that while desiring better options for our community. He has been active in our community sponsoring and volunteering for a range of activities while strongly advocating for our shire's needs while disregarding negative commentary from those who contribute little to nothing. David Farley is a local who understands local issues as well as the impacts that state and federal policy can have on our electorate. It has been a long time since Narrandera has had the opportunity to back a local for either level of government yet alone one that can effectively prosecute our needs in Canberra, and I urge all residents to give him every chance to do this on our behalf. Gavin Sullivan, Narrandera A shift to One Nation, at what cost? Many voters in Farrer are fed up with the major parties and want to elect someone as a protest, to break up the system. But that person still needs to represent something. I believe David Farley is representing himself. Mainstream media has reported that he applied to become a branch member of the NSW Labor party in 2020. He offered them his support in 2021 and gave money to them as late as March 2023. At that time the Labor platform included support for net-zero emissions by 2050, an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, and doubling the nation’s refugee intake. He was also a financial member of the NSW Nationals Party from November 2015 to November 2020. Locally, he showed support for the Voices of Farrer movement in its early stages. The record shows that two-thirds of elected One Nation candidates have left the party before they have completed their first term of office. This party is based on protest, anger and division, not on policies. This is not ‘change you can trust’. Our community deserves someone who will follow their principles, passionately. Malcolm Moore, Albury
