BOASTING dramatic vistas the Great Dividing Range’s NSW north-eastern fall country contrasts with the historically placid political landscape of the region’s Nationals heartland.
But these days North Coast communities mirror that dynamic landscape. Towns like Grafton, Casino and Kyogle remain Nationals strongholds but tree changers, ‘greenies’ and low socio-economic households increasingly drive places like Tweed, Byron and Ballina to the Greens and Labor.
The Nationals must adapt or wither away and NSW Leader Troy Grant knows it.
“Community demographics have changed markedly and we have failed to explain our narrative properly. We let stereotypes run and that’s why we lost Ballina (to the Greens in 2015),” Mr Grant said.
He acknowledged that the party must broaden its policy platform - “we’re not one-trick ponies” - as he launched a new environment campaign at state conference on Saturday (see p18).
Population trends show the Nationals’ seven state and three federal seats in the north are increasingly significant, as the number of western seats shrinks.
Mr Grant polished his northern pitch at the strategically located Tweed Heads conference venue in the Richmond electorate – once held by the Anthony family dynasty for 55 years but now in Labor’s hands.
“The environment is a priority for is. We’re sick of being told we don’t look after our environment when we’re its greatest custodians,” Mr Grant told the audience to rousing applause.
Mr Grant said the party “hasn’t been given credit” for its environmental record.
“We got blamed for CSG and it wasn’t us,” he said, alluding to the former state Labor government’s 14 year coal and gas exploration bonanza.
The Nationals notched a big win when the NSW Coalition government bought back CSG exploration licence at more than $200,000 a pop and effectively barred the industry from the Northern Rivers.
“The Greens screamed and shouted about CSG, but they didn’t get that outcome,” Mr Grant said.
To complicate matters, Mr Grant also had a hand in more controversial reforms, which garner mixed opinions: Coal seam gas buyouts and industry exit from the Northern Rivers; increased police powers over mining, civil and animal welfare protesters and; electricity assets sales that were quarantined from the bush.