PUTTING the Riverina back on the political map is one of the main aims of Democratic Labor Party (DLP) federal election candidate Paul Funnell.
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Mr Funnell was in Leeton earlier this week and said the time was now for change in the region.
The call came after he was pre-selected by the DLP last Friday.
Mr Funnell is a Wagga resident, as well as being a councillor for that city.
"Nothing is going to change unless we want it to," he said.
"That change has to start now by voting for something different ... this is our opportunity to get something done for this region.
"The Democratic Labor Party is essentially an independent and with possible balance of power in the Senate next year, this will very much work in this region's favour.
"The Riverina has been left behind for too long."
Mr Funnell is also the president of the DLP's Riverina branch and has many links to Leeton, with his family being pioneers of the region.
He said Leeton shire should put a vote to his name come the September 14 election for many reasons.
"The biggest one is to get the Basin Plan back on the table," Mr Funnell said.
"I think we can do a lot more to improve it and that is not being done right now.
"What the Riverina needs is to establish more regional development too.
"This is one of the best regions of the country, but more needs to be done to help it out."
Mr Funnell would also like more to be done when it comes to the Australian dollar and overseas exports to protect the MIA's agriculture industries.
"Most politicians run from the word 'protect', but I embrace it," he said.
"We are supposed to be here doing this for the people and I think I can find that right balance."