WHILE Independent candidate Tony Windsor was pleased with the attendance at his Armidale, Tamworth, Quirindi, Scone and Glen Innes meetings, he said the grassroots meetings were very ‘issue focussed’ and, from that aspect, he thought they had been very good.
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“People are there to talk about real issues, rather than politics, in a sense, and I’ve found that valuable. And I hope they’ve found what I’ve had to say valuable,” Mr Windsor said.
He said his meetings addressed a wide range of issues, including why he is standing, his past achievements in terms of his record and what he sees as important things for the future.
“People have been asking questions probably for an hour on a whole range of issues,” Mr Windsor said. He said he had always said “The world is run by those who turn up”, and that those turning up were not invited guests, but community members who were interested in what was happening around them.
Mr Windsor said he looked forward to holding a meeting at Inverell’s Flanders House commencing at 6pm on Wednesday, May 4. “I’m not suggesting that we’ll run the world tomorrow, but what I am suggesting is that it is an opportunity for people to be involved in the political process,” he said.
Mr Windsor said he found, while many issues he raised were of concern to his audience, there were concerns the audience held that he had not been aware of until now.
“Whether they are for or against, it is an opportunity for some debate about issues and things that are important in their lives,” he said.
“The job of a representative in Parliament is to represent real people on real issues. That’s what the House of Representatives is all about.”