Windsor to Run

THE race has started for the next federal election with Tony Windsor announcing he will run as an independent for the seat of New England.

Scone and the Upper Hunter shire area will no longer be part of the Hunter electorate and will become part of the federal seat of New England at the next federal election.

Currently Barnaby Joyce from the National party holds the seat.

Mr Windsor held the seat of New England for 12 years before leaving federal politics in 2013, citing health and family reasons.

Lee Watts, former independent candidate for the state seat of Upper Hunter said the announcement of Mr Windsor running was good for the Scone area.

“Having independents give the major parties a run for the money means more focus will be placed on the local electorate and they can’t take the voters for granted,” said Mrs Watts.

“Windsor is already attracting national media attention just by announcing he is running,” she said.

“The shake up of power hopefully means this seat won’t be taken for granted by the National party,” Lee Watts said.