Deniliquin accountant Peter Robinson has left the National Party to run as an independent at the upcoming Murray by-election.
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The 55-year-old joins Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Helen Dalton – another ex-National Party member – in running against his former party.
Mr Robinson said he resigned from the Nationals after the party’s hierarchy rejected what he saw as an important water motion at a state conference.
Mr Robinson said one important study could make all the difference when it comes to Murray Darling water policy.
“An evaluation of the relative environmental merits of retaining or alternatively modifying barrages in South Australia which stops the daily southern ocean tides from flushing into the mouth of the Murray River, ” he said.
Mr Robinson concedes he’s unlikely to win the seat, but would like to use his campaign to raise the profile of issues that concern many people – water policy and family law reform.
Mr Robinson said water is too political, and the Nationals don’t support better policy for fear the Liberal Party could lose marginal seats in South Australia.
“I’m sorry, the National Party membership isn’t here to help Christopher Pyne or other Liberals in Adelaide keep their seat”.
“We are concerned the National Party hierarchy isn’t paying enough attention to its grass roots membership”.
Mr Robinson said he moved to Deniliquin 18 months ago. Despite being a qualified chartered account and lawyer from the city, he’s adapted to country life well and has tried his hand at farming jobs.
Mr Robinson said he is also interested in making a difference on family law issues.
“You can’t change family law from a state seat, but you can do a lot of things to improve things for family”.
“We have too many marriage break ups and too many fathers who don’t see their children”.
“We’ve gone too far one way that it needs to come back into balance”.
“If anyone out there has suffered due to the stupidity of the Family Court they can come to me”.
Mr Robinson said he has not made a decision on where his preferences will flow, and prefers to let the voters decide.