General news
17 April, 2025
More nominees as candidates gather at Dubbo RSL Club for Parkes Electorate Forum
First of two forums held at Dubbo this week
STEPHEN Pope from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, Mark Carter from Pauline Hanson's One Nation, Petrus Van Der Steen from Trumpet of Patriots, Indigenous Aboriginal Party of Australia rep, Bob Wilson, and Independent Stuart Howe are the additional candidates to have thrown their hat in the ring for the seat of Parkes at the 2025 federal election on May 3.
All nominees will have their fair share of supporters in what is seen as one of the most fiercely contested elections in decades.
With early voting opening in locations across the electorate from next week including West Wyalong, at the Wyalong CTC Centre from Saturday April 26 at 9am, the polls are expected to also feature more youth voters than baby boomers for the first time as well. The Nationals have held the seat for 40 years and Jamie Chaffey will be aiming to maintain the party's perfect record.
Meanwhile, last Sunday, April 13, the Dubbo RSL Memorial Club hosted a candidate forum for the federal electorate of Parkes, providing constituents with an opportunity to engage directly with those vying to represent them in the upcoming May 3 election. It was the first time the combatants had come head-to-head in such a setting and provided a perfect platform for them to express their policies and views.
The forum featured the following candidates:
Jamie Chaffey (The Nationals): Chaffey, a local representative, is the endorsed candidate for The Nationals in the Parkes electorate.
Nathan Fell (Australian Labor Party): Fell, a mining professional from Broken Hill, is the Labor candidate for Parkes.
Sally Edwards (Libertarian): Edwards represents the Liberal Democrats in the Parkes electorate.
Maurice Davey (Family First): Davey is the Family First candidate for Parkes.
Trish Frail (The Greens): Frail stands as The Greens' candidate in the Parkes electorate.
The retiring National MP, Mark Coulton, who has represented Parkes since 2007, announced his retirement earlier this year, prompting a reshuffling of electoral boundaries and candidates.
Parkes is Australia's largest electorate, covering 406,755 square kilometres - 50.1% of New South Wales. The electorate's boundaries were adjusted in the recent redistribution, resulting in an increased National margin from 17.8% to 18.2%.
The candidates discussed a range of issues pertinent to the vast and diverse electorate, including infrastructure development, healthcare access, and agricultural support. The forum allowed constituents to pose questions and gain insights into each candidate's policies and vision for the future of Parkes.
As the election approaches, the Parkes electorate remains a focal point of political activity, with candidates actively engaging with the community to address local concerns and outline their agendas.
For more information on the candidates and their policies, visit their respective campaign websites.
Read More: West Wyalong
