Former Bathurst deputy mayor Tracey Carpenter has announced she will run as the Greens candidate for the seat of Bathurst at next year’s state election.
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Ms Carpenter, who served six years on Bathurst Regional Council, yesterday admitted that taking on incumbent Nationals MP Paul Toole would not be an easy task.
“I will definitely be batting above my weight to take Paul on,” she said.
“However, this is an opportunity for the community to show an interest in some of the principles I am standing on and make the major parties answerable to the environment. It will also show they are concerned about their policies.
“The way politics is now, democracy only exists within the margins between the major parties. The importance of holding the balance of power cannot be underestimated.”
Ms Carpenter said she made her decision after “watching things get worse and worse” as a result of the efforts of the current state and federal governments.
She added that Lithgow seems to have been abandoned by the people of the region.
“The situation [job losses] with Lithgow now seems ridiculous when so many renewable energy projects have been stalled and blocked,” Ms Carpenter said. “I decided it was time to step up and stand for the local seat.”
Ms Carpenter – who is the chair of the Bathurst Community Climate Action Network – said that during her time away from government she has worked behind the scenes on climate issues and renewable energy.
“I have been a long-term advocate in land, water, and the environment,” she said. “The government is giving foreign shareholders a free kick to take the lot and leave us with minimal returns.”
Ms Carpenter and her husband Greg Wilkinson have three children and have lived in Bathurst for 22 years.
She has worked in journalism for most of her career. She started as a cadet with News Limited and has held roles at the ABC and Channel 7.