"Everyone in the Hunter Valley is S**t Scared"- Dale McNamara Named One Nation's Candidate in Upper Hunter By-election

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Pub owner, and property development manager Dale McNamara has been named as One Nation's candidate for the crucial Upper Hunter by-election.

Born in Singleton, Mr McNamara worked as a coal miner for over 10 years, before investing in a number of companies like PPK, GE Mining and Industrea. 

While being unveiled as the party's candidate on Thursday, he said the current government is pulling the wool over the Upper Hunter's eyes. 

"I think the people in the Upper Hunter are smart enough to know they've had a gut full. Everyone is s**t scared in the Hunter Valley, because they don't know what's coming next." 

"It scared the s**t out of me when I heard (Malcom) Turnbull was going to be our renewable manager."

Mr Turnbull was dumped from the role. 

Mr McNamara said if elected he'll fight to ensure the Upper Hunter receives it's fair share of mining royalties, with $1.1 billion reportedly collected from the Singleton and Muswellbrook LGA'S, and only 10% returning to local projects.

"There's a lot of money that goes out of this valley, and there's a lot of jobs in this valley, and they've got to stay here." 

Mr McNamara says large sums of money are being funneled into Sydney, when sporting clubs in Singleton cant afford change rooms for female players.

"Our girls in Singleton are playing Rugby league, Rugby Union, AFL and cricket, they're getting changed in cars and toilets." 

Mr McNamara also said he wants more money invested into local health, vocational training, and roads.

"Let me tell you, I've been driving up to Dungog for a long time and if you don't have a 4WD then don't go up there." 

With strong ties to the Coal industry, he said the electorate cannot survive without the resource. 

"All I can say is coal is my life. All this coal we're not going to sell, how about we build some coal fired power stations and we can use our own, there's a site right next to Bayswater power station." 

Mr McNamara may be vying for the seat against former One Nation member Stuart Bonds, after he flagged making a possible move to State politics and running as a independent.  

A former Federal member, Mr Bonds was dumped from the party after expressing opposition to it's support of industrial relations laws passed by the Federal Government, which he said allows for the further casualisation of the mining workforce.

Mr McNamara said he wishes Mr Bonds all the best. 

"Stuarts moved on and I'm here." 

One Nation Leader Mark Latham said he understands coal miners in the Upper Hunter may have  different reactions to the industrial relations bill. 

"The laws were passed in the Senate, and we're running for State Parliament."

"But it's not surprising there are a range of views. I've spoken to coal miners who've looked at the package and they've see pluses in it." 

Upper Hunter By-election Candidate Dale McNamara and One Nation Leader Mark Latham

State Labor Doesn't Support Ban on New Upper Hunter Coal Mines Despite Poll Showing Voter Support

BY ISABEL EVERETT

State Labor says it doesn't support a ban on new coal mines in the Upper Hunter, despite a recent poll showing most voters in the area are supportive of the idea. 

An Australia Institute poll of 668 people in the electorate found 57.4 per cent support a moratorium on new coal mine approvals and a remediation plan for existing mines in the Hunter Valley, against 35.1 percent opposing the measures.

Research from the institute also recently found proposals for new coal projects in the Upper Hunter have a combined output of 98 million tonnes of coal per year, equivalent to ten new Adani-sized mines. 

Opposition Leader Jodi McKay said the party doesn't support the ban, while announcing the party's candidate for the up-coming Upper Hunter by-election on Tuesday, former coal miner Jeff Drayton.

"We do not support a moratorium on coal mines, let's get that out of the way," she said. 

Mr Drayton dismissed the poll.

"I must be talking to a different 600 people," he said. 

The call for a moratorium was made by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, which resulted in him being dumped as the NSW government's new climate economy chief.

Ms McKay said despite not supporting the idea, the party remained committed to tackling climate change and environmental issues.

"We need to be pursuing renewable energy, we all know that, but we also need to make sure that we're protecting jobs in the coal industry."

"What frustrates me... is that if you're in this corner, supposedly you can't accept that corner," she said.

Michael Johnsen Quits Parliament Over Rape and Lewd Text Allegations

BY ISABEL EVERETT 

Former Upper Hunter MP, Michael Johnsen has resigned from Parliament. 

Mr Johnsen was under pressure from both sides of politics to quit, after he was suspended from the Nationals Party following allegations he raped a sex worker in the Blue Mountains in 2019, which he strongly denies 

Fresh allegations emerged on Tuesday he offered to pay $1 thousand to woman to have sex with him in parliament.

The government threatened to expel him if he didn't quit voluntarily. 

Deputy Premier John Barilaro says he welcomes Mr. Johnsen's resignation.

"My message to the people of the Upper Hunter is I will always put integrity before politics, which is why I called for Mr. Johnsen’s resignation."

"I want to say to the communities of the Upper Hunter that I am sorry, but please be assured the NSW Nationals’ focus has always been, and will always be, on delivering for the Upper Hunter and keeping our communities safe and secure."

The State Government is unlikely to lose it's majority vote in parliament, even if Mr. Johnsen's former Upper Hunter seat falls to another party. 

Labor or the Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers Party could take the seat in the upcoming by-election. 

Mr. Johnsen's resignation leaves the government in minority with only 46 of the 93 seats in the Legislative Assembly. 

But Independent Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper, says he'll continue to vote with the Berejiklian government.

"As far as I've concerned nothing has changed, obviously the Government has got some pretty serious problems that they're dealing with at the moment, but that doesn't directly reflect on the ability of the current government to maintain running the State."

"My support is primarily with for Gladys Berejiklian, not for the Government per se."