The Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party candidate for the Orange By-Election, Philip Donato, is set to put a burr under the saddle of Troy Grant and The Nationals.
Send the message to the Deputy Premier and Nationals Leader, Troy Grant: out there in Dubbo, if you don’t like what he’s done, if you don’t like the fact that he’s in bed with The Greens and Animal Justice Party – send the message by elevating Phil Donato to be the next local member for Orange, representing the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party.
“This will send a clear message to the nervous nellies on the backbench – both Liberal and National Party – that you can’t treat people like offal. That’s exactly what the National Party has done,” Mr Hadley said.
Mr Donato’s announcement criticised the National Party for their complacency.
“The Nationals have been resting on their laurels in rural New South Wales for years,” Mr. Donato said.
“Without a strong, electable opponent they have grown complacent about what has been a ‘one-horse race’ in rural areas. Today, that changes. I will take up the fight for the people of the Orange electorate right up to Macquarie Street.”
Mr. Donato said that with the recent ban on greyhound racing, the Nationals have shown that their true loyalties are to The Greens, the Animal Justice Party and the Liberal Party, rather than their constituents.
“All the National Party want from their MPs is that they do whatever the Liberal Party says – even if it is bad for their rural constituents. That’s what we saw from the recent demotion of Katrina Hodgkinson and Chris Galuptis for not supporting Mike Baird and Troy Grant’s greyhound racing ban.
“Since the Liberal Party are siding with the Animal Justice Party on banning greyhound racing, and The Greens on not revoking the Native Vegetation Act, farming communities need advocates who will actually stand up for them.”
With his wife Nadia and their five sons behind him, Philip Donato has the drive and experience to prosecute the issues that matter to the people of Orange in Parliament.
“As a local, I know that if you give somebody an inch, they will take a mile. I certainly won’t be giving-in when it comes to the issues that matter most to the electorate of Orange.
“Our region has great potential as a vibrant local producer of food and wine, as well as being a central hub for agriculture, health and education. I want to be a part of shaping that for the future.”
Mr Hadley said that he would throw his support behind Mr Donato’s tilt in the orange By-Election as he fights against the recent ban on greyhound racing.
“I’ll tell you something now, I will be imploring my listeners on 2GZ FM in Orange – and there are a lot of them, 30% or Orange listens to this program – to vote for this candidate [Mr Donato],” Mr Hadley said.
“I hope to speak to Phil Donato many many times. I won’t be talking to The Nationals’ candidate, come hell or high water.”