Labor and the Shooters, Fishers Farmers Party have criticised the National party for not running in Wagga.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the Nationals would not stand against the Liberals when sitting MP Daryl Maguire resigns.
Wagga Labor candidate Dan Hayes said it was a bad look.
“The Nationals were scrambling for preselection then it turned out they were not even going to be offered the opportunity to do it,” Mr Hayes said,
“It think it’s symbolic of them being in shambles.”
A Shooters spokesman said the party was currently vetting its own candidates.
“Wagga definitely deserves better than what the major parties have to offer,” the spokesman said, adding it was “too early to tell” if the Shooters would benefit from a Nationals’ absence.
Helen Dalton, who ran for the Shooters in Murray, said she would not run for Wagga as it was outside her area.
The Daily Advertiser understands the Liberal Party is still working through its preselection process for Wagga.
READ MORE
During a visit to Wagga Base Hospital on Monday, NSW opposition spokesman for Health Walt Secord urged voters to “trial Dan Hayes for eight months” between the byelection and the general election.
“I am putting a proposal to the community of Wagga: give him a chance for eight months, vote in an unusual way, vote Labor for the first time in many people’s lives and Give Dan eight months,” Mr Secord said.
“If he doesn’t do the job, doesn’t deliver and does not represent the families down here, then turf him out.”
When Mr Maguire resigns, the Speaker of parliament’s lower house will have to issue the writ for a byelection, which will include dates for voting, nomination and enrolment.
There is no legislated timeframe for when a state by-election has to occur following a vacancy.
A NSW Electoral Commission spokesperson encouraged voters to sign up for notifications online at elections.nsw.gov.au/remindme.
“We encourage everyone to also check their enrolment details are up-to-date. They can do this via our website elections.nsw.gov.au,” the spokesperson said.
Wagga electorate residents can enrol to vote if they are an Australian citizen, or a British citizen who was enrolled to vote in Australia on 25 January 1984; and are 16 years of age or older (the minimum age to vote is 18); and have lived at their current address for at least one month.