OUTRAGE over the greyhound racing industry shutdown and council amalgamations have forced Scott Munro's hand, resigning from The Nationals to stand as an independent candidate at the Orange byelection.
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The Orange councillor announced his intention to enter the fray at the November poll, saying he knew of 35 people who had also left the party in the past two weeks due to the greyhound and council merger issues.
“[One trainer] pays $1500 a week to feed his dogs and he's got no way of selling them so quickly. He's spiralling towards debt and being sold up,” Mr Munro said.
“Another bought a property worth $1.1 million and owes $600,000 on it with no income to pay that back.
“We’ve got 850 people with dogs in this electorate.”
Cr Munro was scathing in his opinions of NSW Premier Mike Baird and his deputy Troy Grant.
“Mike Baird and Troy Grant would have to fall on their sword and that would give The Nationals a chance at the next election,” he said.
“The old Country Party values, I can't see that in the leadership at the moment with The Nationals.
“They're so far left they're green.”
Cr Munro believes his public support for the greyhound industry damaged his chances against Nationals candidate Scott Barrett at the party’s preselection last month.
However, he insisted quitting the party was not in protest of the loss.
“I love my National party and would've worked tirelessly for them. It was a terribly difficult decision and it's been something I've been agonising over. The last thing I wanted to do was run as an independent,” he said.
“Janelle [Culverson], should’ve won. She beat me, which was fair enough, and she would've done a good job.
“She won the majority of the votes. It was the preferences that took Scott over the line.”
Amid rumours the Coalition fears its historically vice-like grip on the seat is loosening, Cr Munro believes he is a genuine chance of winning the byelection.
“The bookies would say I'm 200 to one, but I'm an independent with a strong Nationals side and I'm giving people an alternative,” he said.
“It's the lack of democracy in terms of people's rights to do something within the law. Just because some people have done something wrong, other people have been ruined.”