Independent Brad Christensen wants regional and rural towns in Lyne to get their fair share.
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He says roads and infrastructure are the biggest issues in the federal seat and the criteria that governs how funding is distributed needs to change.
Currently the criteria is based on population, so the cities receive more money.
Mr Christensen says it should be focused on giving more money to areas with the largest road network.
“At the moment it is based on population so the cities get more funding for their roads than we do in regional and rural areas, even though we have 10 to 15 times the road network,” he said.
“That needs changing. The criteria has to be based on which areas have the most road network.”
Mr Christensen said road funding had an ongoing impact in any community.
“If you fix your roads and your infrastructure and bridges that leads to more industry, more tourism, more jobs,” he said.
Mr Christensen’s campaign team consists of his wife and mother and is tiny compared with the two major parties.
He decided to run because he is passionate about his local area and his family values.
“We need real representation in regional and rural areas and I want to make that happen,” he said.
“I’m not a politician, and even if I get elected I wouldn’t think of myself as a politician, I’m just an average guy trying to make a difference.
“I’d like to represent my community, and if I was elected, I’d be happy to drive anywhere in my electorate.”
“An an MP you have to cover your whole electorate, I don’t think that has been done previously, and that’s why one of the reasons I wanted to stand.”
Mr Christensen said it was hard to convey his message to the entire electorate as a independent, and he was trying to meet face-to-face with constituents as much as possible. His small campaign team has been travelling across the electorate distributing flyers.
Mr Christensen grew up on a dairy farm on the Mid North Coast and has retained his love of the land. He wants to help provide better opportunities for the nation.
He was a small business owner for 17 years, is a butcher by trade, has trained apprentices and works as an agricultural assistant at a high school.
He is passionate about employers taking the time to train young people.
He said it enhanced their self-esteem and work ethic and provided ongoing benefits to the business and entire community.
