The major parties may be angling for a health care and cost of living election, but education is likely to get top billing in the New England with another teacher joining the race.
Muswellbrook former teacher, activist and conservationist Wendy Wales has been announced this morning as the Greens’ candidate for New England at the 2025 Federal election. Muswellbrook has been redistricted by the Australian Electoral Commission from Hunter into New England at this election.
“This election is a one-in-a-generation chance to make meaningful changes to the way governments in Australia work,” Wales said.
“More Greens means more pressure to get Labor to act in the community’s interests and it helps keep Peter Dutton out of power.”
Wales joins fellow teacher and ALP candidate Laura Hughes, and musician Brent Larkham who is standing for One Nation, both from Tamworth, taking on the Nationals Barnaby Joyce who is running again to retain the seat he has held since 2013.
Wales is known for her community contributions and passion for instilling a love of the environment and learning to students at Muswellbrook High School. Co-founding the Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group Inc (DAMS HEG), she has a long history of environmental campaigning.
Her environmental advocacy includes an attempt to save the train into Newcastle city centre, participating in Newcastle Harbour Blockades and speaking at the Independent Planning Commission hearings on behalf of the DAMS HEG.
Wales is familiar with the true New England part of the electorate, having come to Armidale in the mid-1980s from Perth to study education at the University of New England, becoming involved in the peace movement and the local National Parks Association. She moved to Muswellbrook thirty years ago, teaching biology at Muswellbrook High School and introducing hundreds of students to the unique landscapes, plants and animals in the region.
The Upper Hunter provided Ms Wales and her family with a diverse range of sporting and cultural opportunities, including bushwalking, hockey, soccer and rugby, the Scone Singers and the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music.
Wales said she is greatly inspired by the Greens’ groundbreaking policy platforms.
“We know the climate crisis is the compelling existential issue of our times compounded by the rising cost of living and how that is impacting everyone, every day.”
“That’s why the Greens have plans to provide affordable housing, stop supermarket price gouging, put dental and mental health into Medicare, make visits to the doctor free and take strong action on the climate crisis.”
“We can make these changes by making big corporations pay more, so that ordinary Australians don’t have to. It’s about ensuring the billionaires and big business pay their share to make it fairer for everyone.”
The election must be held by May 17.
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