The fallout between the Member for Dubbo and the former mayor of the city has sparked again, this time over the legacy of former Independent Dubbo MPs.
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Just a few months after Troy Grant and Mathew Dickerson clashed over the state government’s decision to merge Dubbo and Wellington councils, the pair have begun what could be a three-year war of words.
Mr Grant was asked a question about Independents at a recent media event and said while he would welcome anybody to challenge him at the 2019 election, past history had shown that Independents failed to deliver.
He referred to both Tony McGrane and Dawn Fardell, calling them “great people” but said in a combined 12 years in office they hadn’t helped Dubbo to progress.
The former Dubbo mayor leapt to the defence of both Ms Fardell and the late Mr McGrane, calling them fine ambassadors of the city.
Mr Dickerson hasn’t ruled out challenging Mr Grant at the election in three years time.
Mr Dickerson said if an election was held tomorrow, he would definitely stand.
He has accused Mr Grant of putting his own position within the Nationals ahead of representing his electorate.
Mr Dickerson said the voting public should always be confident that their local member is fighting for them. He said Mr McGrane and Ms Fardell always did that but questioned Mr Grant’s ability to do the same.
However Mr Grant has said he has always been honest with the people of Dubbo, and used the greyhound industry shutdown as an example of his ability to do what is right, even if it isn’t popular.
He said he would be happy to be judged on his performance by the electorate.
He listed the funding for the Dubbo Hospital redevelopment and the work being done towards an integrated cancer centre as some of the proof of his dedication to the people of Dubbo, and things that an independent wouldn’t have been able to achieve.
For several years Mr Grant and Mr Dickerson stood side-by-side at events and talked about the strong relationship between council and government.
That is a thing of the past.
Any personal relationship between the two appears to be tense and already the battle lines are being drawn, even if we aren’t sure there is going to be a war.