MEMBER for Murray Helen Dalton has rejected claims by the NSW Nationals that she’s failed to deliver on previous election promises, branding them “dinosaurs” who don’t have the interests of country people at heart.
Nationals Murray state electoral council chair John Dickie said Mrs Dalton made many promises at the last election “and has delivered on none of them and that is because she is neither in government nor opposition”.
“We understand why people vented their frustration at the last election and backed in the Shooters and Fishers (member) turned independent Helen Dalton,” he said in a statement.
Mrs Dalton said she thought it was a “bit rich” that The Nationals thought she had “done nothing – that’s clearly not true”.
“The mere fact for starters is that because I ran in 2019, the seat is now marginal,” she said.
“For 35 years it was a strong Nationals seat and in 2019, when there was a bit of competition after the by-election in 2017, they threw $500 million at the seat.
“Now I have secured funding for a new hospital in Griffith, money into streetscaping, council grants, and other announcements for hospitals, including Wentworth.
“I’ve heard constituents say they have never seen so much money flowing because we are now marginal … we have a lot of catching up to do, though.”
Mrs Dalton predicted there would be a hung parliament at the state election, with Labor closest to victory.
“It doesn’t matter really because, as an independent, I will work with anyone. The Liberals are open to conversations but the Nats aren’t open to anything,” she said.
“I had some pushback from people asking me what I could do as an independent and all I can do is my best. I can be a strong advocate in the electorate, I don’t have to toe a party line and can set my own agenda.
“I have no doubt about it – watch the federal arena and see the teal MPs putting agendas on the table front and centre, and holding major parties to account with issues they won’t deal with.”
Mrs Dalton said she’d work “perfectly well” with a Labor government.
“Labor is quite hungry to come into government. They are a fresh crop of people and doing their homework,” she said.
“I won’t have a problem working with Labor, no problem working with the Libs, but the Nats are dinosaurs.
“They have no interests of country people at heart – it’s all big business, big corporations and foreign interests.”
Mrs Dalton said she was surprised how much “influence” she’s had in state politics.
“I’ve called the government out. It’s like a dripping tap, saying the same things over and over, getting people behind you and building a movement. People realise this is a good ideas and can make a change,” she said.
There were no regrets from Mrs Dalton on her decision to resign from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party in March.
She resigned because Upper House Shooters and Fishers MPs failed to show up for a “crucial” vote on floodplain harvesting.
“They refused to vote down dodgy National Party law changes that allowed for excessive water take in the northern Basin,” Mrs Dalton said.
She told The Guardian she was her “own person”.
“I didn’t toe the line much and that caused friction,” she said.
“They told me to vote this way and I said I wouldn’t – I’m not a pushover. I don’t have to worry about the party reining me in.”
Mrs Dalton urged the NSW Nationals to put up a candidate and “blow a whole lot more money” into the electorate.
“We need a lot more stuff because for 35 years it was neglected and that’s glaringly obvious,” she said.
“We are a powerhouse for agriculture, the very best food producers in the world, so give us the tools to really produce.”
The Nationals last week opened nominations for candidates for the Murray seat in the March 2023 state election and the closing date is August 1.
Mr Dickie said the party needed to find “a candidate who is prepared to be the driving force to get things done, not just shout from the sidelines”.
He said The Nationals’ preselection was determined by grassroots members based on presentations from nominees given on the day.
“We are proud of the fact that our party lets its members decide who they want to represent them in an election,” he said.
“It is a transparent and robust process decided by members from across the entire electorate, so they have to appeal to the whole spectrum of industries, interests and communities.
“I have already taken calls from some very qualified people, and I am excited to see who else may nominate.”
