A SIXTH person will contest the seat of Mallee at the upcoming federal election.
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Horsham resident Cecilia Moar announced her run as an Independent candidate on Monday.
Ms Moar follows in the footsteps of former Yarriambiack Mayor Ray Kingston, who announced in December he would contest as an Independent for the seat.
Mildura Rural City councillor Jason Modica announced he would run as an Independent earlier this month.
The Nationals selected Dr Anne Wesbter as its nominee last month. Citizens Electoral Council’s Chris Lahy and the Science Party’s Leigh Firman have also nominated.
Current Member for Mallee Andrew Broad announced in December he would not recontest at the next federal election in the wake of a scandal.
Ms Moar is a former farmer, and resident of Watchem, Swan Hill and Horsham. She was ABC Victorian Rural Woman of the Year, a graduate of The Australian Rural Leadership program, Telstra Board member and Mallee Catchment Management Authority Board member.
She was born in Birchip and grew up in Watchem. She currently lives in Horsham and owns her own communications business. She has six children and eight great-grandchilden.
“I’ve been away from the Mallee for 10 years and decided to return. I have lived in Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT,” she said.
In 2018 she stood for the The Nationals in the NSW senate. However she has since left the party.
“I felt like I wasn’t being heard in the party and all my efforts were of no prevail,” she said.
“I decided to resign and then this great opportunity to run for Mallee came up. I want to be a true representative of the electorate and respond to the needs of the people.”
Ms Moar said she was running because the federal government had “let us down”.
“Our parliamentary leaders have demonstrated no integrity, and no credible approach to address the challenges we have in regional areas. For example, the coalition government has no policy to address climate change,” she said.
“To have no energy policy is negligent, and it threatens the safety, security and prosperity of rural electorates. Regional areas have an abundance of sources for generating renewable energy, jobs and innovation.
“Regional people work on the land and it just doesn’t make sense that the party representing country people has not addressed issues around climate change and energy.
“Australians are concerned with the damming findings of the banking royal commission, the state of the Murray Darling Basin, extremes of weather, fisticuffs in the Great Hall of Parliament House, and that’s just in February.”
Ms Moar said, if elected, she would represent “the sensible centre”.
“As I’ve helped to feed and educate six children in the Mallee on an average Growing Season Rainfall of 250mm, I view all problems as having a solution. I’m policy driven, and I can use my voice, so that decision makers listen,” she said.
“There are not enough services and infrastructure in the Mallee (and) misses out on basic telecommunications, transport, health and education services. Something is wrong as funding is not matching up with the needs of the electorate.”
She said she also wanted to see more female representation in politics.
“There is a real lack of women. In recent years, more women are stepping up and making their place know. There really needs to be that type of diversity,” she said.
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