BY JARROD MELMETH

Labor has announced Muswellbrook Mayor, Martin Rush will run as the Country Labor candidate for the Upper Hunter in the March 2019 State Election.

State Opposition Leader, Luke Foley made the announcement during a visit to the region this morning – describing the new candidate as having conviction and commitment to the local community.

In the Upper Hunter seat in the last election, Country Labor recorded one of the largest swings against the National Party of 20.8%.

Martin Rush said he believes that margin has narrowed even further since 2015.

“We had over $650 million dollars of commitment from all sides during the last campaign,” he said, “because as the margin narrowed (and that became obvious to both major parties that the seat was up for grabs) there was some interest in the seat – and that was really refreshing.”

Mr Rush believes this renewed interest will make for a hotly contested seat but promises it will be a fair campaign.

“From my perspective, we just want to get out and tell a positive story,” he said, “we want it to be a solution-based campaign.

“So you won’t see our side engaging in any confrontational or negative politics with the other side – that’s just not us.”



Mayor of Muswellbrook, Martin Rush.