Runner-up in Parkes at the last federal election Andrew Brooks has again stood up for the Australian Labor Party. The 23-year-old announced yesterday his candidacy for the seat of Dubbo at the state poll on March 26. Fresh from a review of his performance last year the university student was beckoned by NSW Premier Kristina Keneally’s call for “new blood” to fill the drained ranks of the ALP.
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Mr Brooks will run against independent Dubbo MP Dawn Fardell and The Nationals candidate Troy Grant. Both wished Mr Brooks good luck in his campaign.
Mr Brooks highlighted the usual areas of health, transport and crime as election issues but also capitalised on his age to talk about the exodus of Dubbo youth to the city.
“I’ve been prompted by what I see are a few of the key issues for my generation especially being able to stay in country areas. I hope to try and put a few items forward to the party to help ensure we can get the ball rolling,” he said.
“One of the reasons I am also running is the premier’s call for new blood.” Mr Brooks made his entry into politics at the last federal election garnishing second place with a two-party preferred vote of 31 per cent, suffering a swing of 5 per cent, marginally higher than the overall state swing against the ALP.
Mr Brooks admitted the poor perception of the government would complicate his campaign.
“I conducted a review (of my last campaign) we are satisfied with how everything went we knew it would be a challenge and we are happy with the results we obtained considering being a first time candidate,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to running here regardless of the result I
think the party still has a lot to offer.”
At the last state election it was preference flows from ALP candidate Adrian Hough that saw Ms Fardell across the line and Mr Brooks admitted his “biggest fear (was) if the National Party was to win at the state election we would face four years of getting nothing in the Dubbo electorate”.
While scathing of the ALP Mr Grant welcomed his opponent “into the hustings”. “I think he’s a nice young bloke I just don’t agree with his party or their policies or their performance in government,” he said.
“I think it is exceptional that, as a young person from Generation Y, (to) put his name forward to have a go.” Mr Grant did not limit his encouragement to Mr Brooks saying he considered Ms Fardell a hard worker.
“The electricity petition that our local member garnished - 17,000 signatures or something - a significant message from the community to the government ... Dawn’s own words to me were ‘they completely ignored me’, that’s not good enough,” he said.
Ms Fardell said she expected the Christian Democrats, the Shooters and Fishers Party and the Greens to all announce candidates in the lead up to the election.
“I’ve met with Andrew twice he’s a young nice young fellow I think he deserves a bit of respect for putting his hand up,” she said.
Ms Fardell said it was common practice for major parties to
road test young candidates in elections. Meanwhile Broken Hill’s deputy mayor Neville Gasmier announced he would stand as the ALP candidate for the seat of Murray-Darling. The electorate is currently held by The Nationals John Williams.
