The voting public in the Federal Electorate of New England comprehensively backed The Nationals at the 2025 Federal election. The incumbent Nationals Member secured over 65% of the vote. Almost 77,000 people made a contract with the Nationals Member for New England to represent them as part of the Federal Nationals team in Canberra. His decision to break that contract to sit with a small protest party is a great disappointment.
As a team of one, he will achieve nothing on the floor of Parliament. As a member of a team of 15, he could have. In sporting parlance, it’s like a single player quitting a team, then thinking he can beat the team on his own. He has chosen to place his own ambitions above those of the team.
The Federal Nationals remain the party that New Englanders elected in May 2025. Our focus will always be standing up for our communities and holding both the Federal and State Labor Governments to account on the cost of living, health and aged care, housing, jobs and the economy, education, roads, and all the other issues that impact everyday life in the regions.
These are what the communities of New England want action on.
We are blessed in New England to have three overlapping state seats held by outstanding Nationals local members: Kevin Anderson in Tamworth, Brendan Moylan in Northern Tablelands, and David Layzell in Upper Hunter. All are working hard to hold the NSW Labor Government accountable.
The NSW Nationals have enjoyed very strong growth over the last 12-18 months, with many new members joining, and many rejoining following a period of absence. Reports of mass resignations from the Tamworth Nationals are completely incorrect. There has been, in fact, a substantial increase in membership in Tamworth and across New England.
The NSW Nationals will be doing whatever it takes to return New England to the Federal Nationals team at the 2028 Federal election. A preselection process and timing will be determined over the next few months and I am sure there will be plenty of community interest when this commences.
In the meantime, The Nationals will be represented in New England by Senator Ross Cadell, and the 17 strong Federal Nationals Team will continue to fight for equity across regional NSW and all of regional Australia.
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It is interesting to note the list of issues that the Nationals say they are addressing in New England, as outlined by Rick Colless — with no mention whatsoever of the need for regional rail renewal. Is this deliberate?
He states:
“Our focus will always be standing up for our communities and holding both the Federal and State Labor Governments to account on the cost of living, health and aged care, housing, jobs and the economy, education, roads, and all the other issues that impact everyday life in the regions.”
For more than three years, New Englanders have been asking both levels of government to investigate the feasibility of re-opening the railway line north of Armidale — a project that could transform our region. It has the potential to grow our economy, create jobs, increase population, support housing needs, and improve cross-border mobility and connectivity.
Yet the National Party, with or without Barnaby, has never been outspoken on this issue. It has never properly recognised or acknowledged the hardship faced by residents north of Armidale who must travel long distances — often into South-East Queensland — to access health services.
We are often told that the party has three State members in the region. But what have they done in the past three years to engage with rail proponents or support a feasibility study?
Instead, the impression is that the party supports the ill-fated rail trail being promoted by Armidale and Glen Innes councils — a plan that requires the removal of the existing railway line rather than its reactivation.
To remove a vital transport asset instead of restoring it is, quite frankly, what I would call committing regional economic suicide.