A shift away from the National Party has already been felt by voters and campaigners in Molong on Saturday morning as residents lined up to cast their vote in the Orange Byelection.
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With amalgamation plans and greyhound bans still fresh in their minds, former National voters could clearly be seen taking a better look at other parties and candidates.
Anti-amalgamation campaigners made sure to make their voices heard as people walked into the Community Centre, reminding residents to “look after Cabonne,” when they cast their vote.
Labor supporter Toby Tancred said it was a very different ‘vibe’ to previous elections at the Molong booth.
“There is a sense of disconnect with the National Party. In previous years not many people have taken the phamplets for the Labor Party, but this year they are and they are really snapping up the Fishers and Shooters Party ones,” Mr Tancred said.
Mudgee Nationals chairman Sandy Walker was in Molong handing out how to vote pamphlets for the Nationals.
“This is probably the hottest, most contentious polling booth around today.
“I think you will find we do reduce our percentage, but I still hope the Nationals hold the seat at the end of the day.”
“I’ve had a fair bit of contact with people today, talking about greyhounds and amalgamations. I live in a town that amalgamated 20 years ago, and the towns that went into the Mid Western Regional Council have never been better off.
“I think a lot of it here is fear of the unknown and in five years time people will be wondering what all the fuss was about.”
Mr Tancred said another thing he had noticed was the ‘sense of camaraderie’ and the sense of civility between people working the booths.
“I love election day, I would much rather live in Australia than any other country. You can have different views and those views can be expressed.”
Lynn Rayner
I am the editor of the Daily Liberal, Mailbox Shopper, Western Magazine and associated western publications (Wellington Times and Narromine News which are both online only publications). I have been the editor for three years. I have been a journalist for 15 years and was formally the digital specialist for the Western NSW area assisting with digital coverage and growth across 13 mastheads, including the three dailies. Before that I worked as a journalist in Lithgow and Mudgee covering a number of different rounds. I established the social media accounts in Lithgow and took an interest in the digital aspects of the paper. I started my journalism career at the former Myall Coast Nota based as the journalist-in-charge at Tea Gardens while also working part time in Forster as the council reporter for the Great Lakes Advocate.
I am the editor of the Daily Liberal, Mailbox Shopper, Western Magazine and associated western publications (Wellington Times and Narromine News which are both online only publications). I have been the editor for three years. I have been a journalist for 15 years and was formally the digital specialist for the Western NSW area assisting with digital coverage and growth across 13 mastheads, including the three dailies. Before that I worked as a journalist in Lithgow and Mudgee covering a number of different rounds. I established the social media accounts in Lithgow and took an interest in the digital aspects of the paper. I started my journalism career at the former Myall Coast Nota based as the journalist-in-charge at Tea Gardens while also working part time in Forster as the council reporter for the Great Lakes Advocate.
