THE Greens have revved up its push to win the support of rural voters with Moree farmer Penny Blatchford joining the party to run for the Senate.
Ms Blatchford and her husband Rob are grain and cotton farmers from Gurley near Moree, and she has been a vocal campaigner on the need to protect her community from coal seam gas exploration.
“Rather than whinging in my kitchen I thought I’d get involved, so I'm running for the Greens in the Senate,” Ms Blatchford said.
“I'm fed up with the Nationals failing to protect our precious farms and water resources.
"The Greens have stood up for farmers, so now I'm a farmer standing for the Greens," she said.
The Greens beat both major parties to the punch for agricultural policy last week, launching a $600 million policy package, aimed at supporting rural Australia.
The policy detailed the Greens' response to key challenges to Australia's food system including keeping farmers on the land, and protecting agricultural land and water.
Ms Blatchford will stand as number three on the Greens Senate ticket in NSW.
