LEAVING his party to defend a bitterly disappointed section of the Orange electorate may have improved Scott Munro's chances of winning the November byelection, according to a poll run by the Central Western Daily.
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The Orange councillor announced he would run as an independent candidate due to the Coalition’s treatment of the greyhound industry and council amalgamations and the online poll asked readers whether they would vote for him on that basis.
There were 604 responses – 43.4 per cent said they would vote for Cr Munro as an independent, 41.1 per cent said they would not vote for him at all, 11.4 per cent said they would vote for him no matter what and 4 per cent said they would only vote for him as a National.
With more than half saying they would vote for him in some capacity, Cr Munro was heartened by the result.
“I would say I’ll be the next member for Orange based on that,” he said.
“It’s a sad indictment on [Nationals leader] Troy Grant – it’s pretty much the core of our [former] Country Party values that have been eroded away here and the people who have those values, you’ll see a backlash from.”
He said a vote for him would put pressure on the Coalition to change its leadership.
Social media comment on the greyhound ban has been as divided as Cr Munro’s level of support.
Kellie Windiate said the decision would affect people’s incomes.
“It will [affect] a lot of hard working people that do the right thing. And its not a bloody hobby for some people, its their livelihoods,” she said.
Jack Oates agreed.
“People are struggling already and it's a timely reminder to make contact with those impacted upon and ask if they are OK,” he said.
“It's been a tough few weeks for all and it will get worse.”
Meanwhile Murray Guinness said at least greyhound trainers had been given 12 months’ notice.
“Unlike in the real world when people are made redundant they get next to no notice,” he said.