Why I left the Shooters Party

On Thursday 3 March, I resigned from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers (SFF) Party. I will now represent Murray as an independent in NSW Parliament.

In late February, Upper House Shooter Party MPs did not show up for a crucial vote on floodplain harvesting.

They refused to vote down dodgy National Party law changes that allowed for excessive water take in the Northern Basin.

These law changes really disadvantaged Lower Darling communities and Murray River irrigators.

I’ve always said I’d put my electorate ahead of my party.

As an Independent, I’ll be able to always vote in the interests of my community.

I won’t be joining or aligning with any other parties or MPs.

Shortly before I resigned from the party, the Shooters removed my access to my Helen Dalton Facebook MP page, which I used to connect to 27,000 supporters. 

This is extremely vindictive and petty.

A few weeks ago when my Dad died, I posted his photos on my page – and received hundreds of condolence wishes. The Shooters have even blocked my access to these messages, before I've had time to respond.

This Facebook page is used to provide information to my constituents as well as highlight community achievements and promote our campaign to get better mental health/hospital services in the bush.

I have therefore appealed to Facebook to try and get it back.

Business as usual 

I want to reassure my constituents that I'll continue to represent you as an Independent, fighting for rural NSW.

My offices in Griffith, Deniliquin and Buronga will remain open, and our team remains dedicated to helping the public.

Over the next year, my focus will be on improving hospital and mental health services in rural NSW; achieving fairer water sharing arrangements across the state and addressing the rural teacher shortage and housing crisis.

Feel free to email me on murray@parliament.nsw.gov.au if you've got any other concerns or questions.