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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/nov/06/new-england-byelection-unique-chance-to-leverage-power-independent-says
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| New England byelection unique chance to leverage power, independent says | New England byelection unique chance to leverage power, independent says |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| An independent from the north of New England has said voters need to return someone other than a National to Canberra to extract maximum leverage in a byelection determining whether the Turnbull government retains a working majority in the lower house. | An independent from the north of New England has said voters need to return someone other than a National to Canberra to extract maximum leverage in a byelection determining whether the Turnbull government retains a working majority in the lower house. |
| Pete Mailler, a 46-year-old cattle and grain producer from Boggabilla, has confirmed he will contest the New England byelection on 2 December, representing the micro-party he has established, CountryMinded. | Pete Mailler, a 46-year-old cattle and grain producer from Boggabilla, has confirmed he will contest the New England byelection on 2 December, representing the micro-party he has established, CountryMinded. |
| Mailler said he was running because it was important the voters in New England be given alternatives, and that the looming election was a genuine contest rather than a cakewalk for the National party. | Mailler said he was running because it was important the voters in New England be given alternatives, and that the looming election was a genuine contest rather than a cakewalk for the National party. |
| He said if he won, he would continue to support the Coalition government in Canberra, but he argued there was a “unique opportunity to politically leverage the government’s need for confidence and supply to maintain their hold on power”. | He said if he won, he would continue to support the Coalition government in Canberra, but he argued there was a “unique opportunity to politically leverage the government’s need for confidence and supply to maintain their hold on power”. |
| “The Coalition will be motivated to retain office for the maximum possible term,” Mailler said. “They must deal with whoever holds the seat of New England on behalf of the electorate, unless that person is already a member of the Coalition.” | “The Coalition will be motivated to retain office for the maximum possible term,” Mailler said. “They must deal with whoever holds the seat of New England on behalf of the electorate, unless that person is already a member of the Coalition.” |
| Barnaby Joyce can’t leverage the political power on offer to the electorate of New England | Barnaby Joyce can’t leverage the political power on offer to the electorate of New England |
| “In other words, Barnaby Joyce can’t leverage the political power on offer to the electorate of New England, to get a better deal from this government from this election. | “In other words, Barnaby Joyce can’t leverage the political power on offer to the electorate of New England, to get a better deal from this government from this election. |
| “This election is a pivotal moment in the future of New England and for rural and regional Australia generally. | “This election is a pivotal moment in the future of New England and for rural and regional Australia generally. |
| “This election is an opportunity to show that the New England electorate can’t be taken for granted by any political party and is an opportunity to secure better political outcomes for our rural and regional communities.” | “This election is an opportunity to show that the New England electorate can’t be taken for granted by any political party and is an opportunity to secure better political outcomes for our rural and regional communities.” |
| Mailler said he understood that voters in New England had some sympathy for Joyce given his disqualification by the high court, but people should think about their capacity “to influence politics positively for their electorate and the nation because this election affects the Coalition’s one-seat majority”. | Mailler said he understood that voters in New England had some sympathy for Joyce given his disqualification by the high court, but people should think about their capacity “to influence politics positively for their electorate and the nation because this election affects the Coalition’s one-seat majority”. |
| Nominations for the byelection close on Thursday. | Nominations for the byelection close on Thursday. |
| As well as Mailler, Joyce will face off against Labor’s David Ewings, from Scone in the southern part of the electorate, and the Armidale-based independent Rob Taber, who has run at the past two elections. | As well as Mailler, Joyce will face off against Labor’s David Ewings, from Scone in the southern part of the electorate, and the Armidale-based independent Rob Taber, who has run at the past two elections. |
| Taber, a local businessman, has told Guardian Australia he would not enter any minority government agreement with the Coalition, but deal with things issue by issue. | Taber, a local businessman, has told Guardian Australia he would not enter any minority government agreement with the Coalition, but deal with things issue by issue. |
| “I would not support either side. I would be right down the middle,” Taber said last week. “They might come to me and say it all hinges on you, you’ve got the balance of power, and my feel on that is they will come to me, and I will say it’s not my problem. | “I would not support either side. I would be right down the middle,” Taber said last week. “They might come to me and say it all hinges on you, you’ve got the balance of power, and my feel on that is they will come to me, and I will say it’s not my problem. |
| “Why are you going to make it my problem? You go away and sort it out.” | “Why are you going to make it my problem? You go away and sort it out.” |
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