Adam Blakester is taking on Barnaby Joyce in New England. Photo: Twitter @adamblakester

Independent Adam Blakester (@adamblakester) is running in Barnaby Joyce’s National Party seat of New England.
Climate change and water are a huge issues (and intrinsically linked) in the seat as evidenced by the recent NSW election result.
Former Member Tony Windsor recently said on Twitter: “@adamblakester is a very decent, caring and forward thinking man with a real capacity to work with community to solve issues and channel energy. He has strong views on governance in business, community groups and government. New England is fortunate to have a person of this calibre.”

8.5{17ac88c265afb328fa89088ab635a2a63864fdefdd7caa0964376053e8ea14b3} margin vs IND
Area: 66,394 sq km
Location: North East NSW
Australian Electoral Commission seat profile
Division of New England on Wikipedia
Adam Blakester: website
Adam Blakester the Independent running against Barnaby Joyce with @CharliCaruso #podcast #IndependentsDay #NewEnglandVotes @Barnaby_Joyce

Wanted: citizen journalists to save democracy

The role: citizen journalist who can write more than a tweet thread and occasionally get out from behind their keyboard to bear witness to the green shoots of democracy in their electorate. Must have strong journalistic ethics and ideally WordPress skills. Sub-editing chops preferred. I never answered a job advertisement for No Fibs. None of […]

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The nostalgia of ‘droughts and flooding rains’ is washed up, and the LNP knows it

OPINION: With flood-ravaged communities in NSW and Queensland experiencing a repeat of February’s deluge, there are signs of hope that Australians might have heard the last gasp of what I call the Dorothea Mackellar Climate Inaction Plan. I’m not the first to call out the use of this narrative. In 2018, during the early stages […]

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Sparks’ climate campaign is a stark reminder of Black Summer in #NewEnglandVotes

WHEN FORMER GLEN Innes mayor Carol Sparks announced her intention to run against Barnaby Joyce in the NSW electorate of New England at the upcoming federal election, she committed to stand up for climate action. “With all the climate catastrophes that we’ve had, people feel lost and they feel depressed,” she told Guardian Australia’s Rural […]

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Healing the hate at home: new novel out of #NewEnglandVotes

OUR FACES come apart after a goodbye kiss, just as the cry ‘faggots!’ bursts from a ute doing a slow turn on the roundabout in front of our gallery. Here on the high street of the New England town we’ve called home for four years, Richard and I run a successful business in the same […]

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Change in #NewEnglandVotes will take an indie tornado

COMMENT: Since moving back to the rural northern NSW electorate where I was born, I’ve become angrier than ever that less than ten per cent of Australian voters are getting to decide what the rest of us do about climate change. So I agreed to report on the seat of New England, but I’m never […]

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Quiet leader of #ClimateEmergency: @burgewords #CarolSparks interview #NSWFires

Journalist Michael Burge interviewed Carol Sparks — mayor of Glen Innes Severn Shire Council in the NSW New England region — in 2019, before this week’s bushfires that have caused multiple fatalities and property losses, and continue to burn in conditions widely described as “unprecedented”. Here’s a glimpse of where Clr Sparks’ principled stand about climate […]

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#AusVotes Day 38 – The only poll that counts: @qldaah #qldpol

May 18, 2019 – Table of contents The only poll that counts . The only poll that counts Only one poll matters. It may be a cliché but it’s true. All the polling throughout a government’s term might shift a prime minister or two but only the one on election day that can shift or […]

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#AusVotes Day 37 – Tributes for Bob Hawke on the final day: @qldaah #qldpol

May 17, 2019 – Table of contents Farrer Independent Kevin Mack believes Farrer deserves more than a ‘BYO Australia’ The scare campaign in Chisholm Hume MP Angus Taylor’s name has popped up again Pastoralist Kate McBride calls for change in river country Tributes for Bob Hawke on the final day of the campaign . Farrer […]

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#AusVotes Day 36 – Combative climate change policy: @qldaah #qldpol

May 16, 2019 – Table of contents Jeremy Miller is running to win Lyne A student and first time voter in Higgins Twisted Sister, Clive Palmer copyright infringement case Standing with a nervous nation that still believes Follow up to yesterday’s negative gearing discussion Campbell Newman sized cuts to hit federal public service Senator Bridget […]

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#AusVotes Day 35 – ‘Class warfare’ slogan deployed: @qldaah #qldpol

May 15, 2019 – Table of contents Kerri-Anne Kennerley explodes Turning the #AusVotes grassroots turquoise Bill Shorten campaigns in Perth against wages theft Scott Morrison campaigns in Corangamite on housing Dark clouds and silver linings, the ICAN climate action vision ‘Class warfare’ slogan deployed The guerrilla campaign to get Jim Molan over the line . […]

Posted in #auspol, #ausvotes, #Columns, #FarrerVotes, #HumeVotes, #NewEnglandVotes, #Qgame, #Watergate, David Marler, Front Page | Comments Off on #AusVotes Day 35 – ‘Class warfare’ slogan deployed: @qldaah #qldpol

#AusVotes Day 34 – Keating attacks ‘mean’ Dutton: @qldaah #qldpol

May 14, 2019 – Table of contents ‘Business as usual’ killing communities: Border Doctors’ letter to Indi and Farrer Peter Dutton “mean spirited”, says Paul Keating A Labor government would make a new submission to FWC on increasing wages Scott Morrison campaigns in the marginal seat of Boothby CSIRO was only given hours to approve […]

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#AusVotes Day 33 – News Corp attack in Gladstone: @qldaah #qldpol

May 13, 2019 – Table of contents Liberal candidate Steve Martin won’t come clean on dirty coal, collusion Qld UAP senate candidate Yodie Batzke may not be whom she says she is Attempted arson attack on Labor’s Belinda Hassan in Dawson Ray Kingston closes in on the nation’s safest seat Scott Morrison campaigns on housing […]

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#AusVotes Day 32 – Coalition launches Scott Morrison: @qldaah #qldpol

May 12, 2019 – Table of contents Mystery over Peter Dutton leaving the Queensland police service Bill Shorten rallies in Melbourne Coalition launches Scott Morrison . Mystery over Peter Dutton leaving the Queensland police service At the 2001 federal election, Cheryl Kernot was the member for Dickson. A fresh Liberal Party candidate by the name […]

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#AusVotes Day 31 – ABC five year plan: @qldaah #qldpol

May 11, 2019 – Table of contents Coalition pitch for a global netball hub Labor’s plan to restore funding to the ABC . Coalition pitch for a global netball hub Michael Koziol reported, “The Coalition will make a pitch to young female athletes with a $30 million plan to raise the profile of Australian netball […]

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#AusVotes Day 30 – Costings day: @qldaah #qldpol

May 10, 2019 – Table of contents Liberal candidate for Indi Steve Martin working with Cory Bernardi Scott Morrison pitches coal school Costings day . Liberal candidate for Indi Steve Martin working with Cory Bernardi Wayne Jansson reported, “Liberal Indi candidate Steve Martin’s campaign is working with Cory Bernardi’s far right Australian Conservatives. In Wangaratta, […]

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Rust comes off at Tamworth candidates’ forum: @NewEnglandLady4 reports on #NewEnglandVotes

The stark difference between Independent and party-bound electoral candidates came into sharp focus at the Tamworth’s meet the candidates forum on Monday, May 6, with all eight candidates facing members of the New England constituency. The forum was reasonably well patronised, with over 400 people reported to have attended. ABC New England North West radio […]

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#AusVotes Day 29 – Keep stopped the boats: @qldaah #qldpol

May 9, 2019 – Table of contents Rod Bower’s journey from church signs to Senate candidate Labor’s war against News Corp escalates The case of the missing environment minister Peter Dutton launches boat stopping policy (again) . Rod Bower’s journey from church signs to Senate candidate Charlie Caruso reports, “NSW Senate candidate for Independents for […]

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Adam Blakester now a serious contender for Barnaby Joyce’s seat: @margokingston1 #NewEnglandVotes #podcast

In the NSW seat of New England, an electorate larger than Tasmania, Independent candidate Adam Blakester (@adamblakester) has been named as the primary threat facing National Party incumbent, Barnaby Joyce. A poll conducted by the Tamworth Business Chamber indicated Joyce was leading, with 46.4 per cent of the vote compared to 43.1pc who declared their […]

Posted in #auspol, #ausvotes, #ausvotes2019 Candidate, #Columns, #IndependentsDay, #IndependentsSay, #KingstonReports, #NewEnglandVotes, #Watergate, Federal Election, Front Page, Margo Kingston, Podcast | Comments Off on Adam Blakester now a serious contender for Barnaby Joyce’s seat: @margokingston1 #NewEnglandVotes #podcast

#AusVotes Day 28 – Playing ‘gotcha shit’: @qldaah #qldpol

May 8, 2019 – Table of contents All care, no responsibility for the media’s message Fijian PM Frank Bainimarama returns serve on John Alexander over ‘move to higher ground’ comment The egg that rolled climate change off the front pages Playing ‘gotcha shit’- News Corp’s attack on Bill Shorten’s Mum . All care, no responsibility […]

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#AusVotes Day 27 – Not back in black yet: @qldaah #qldpol

May 7, 2019 – Table of contents Climate policy doubts over the Liberal Party candidate for Indi UN extinction report but where is the environment minister? Warringah through the lens of Kate Zarifeh Concerns over malicious content being circulated on WeChat Independents day approaching tipping point Clive Palmer’s High Court challenge to preference publishing fails […]

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#AusVotes Day 26 – Australian made: @qldaah #qldpol

May 6, 2019 – Table of contents The debate about the debate rages Clive could spoil the election party Australian made . The debate about the debate rages Both leaders appear to have agreed to a third debate on Wednesday night at the National Press Club. Labor’s Anthony Albanese thinks Scott Morrison should also go […]

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All care, no responsibility for the media’s message: @NewEnglandLady4 comments on #AusVotes #NewEnglandVotes

New England voters are frequently ridiculed and rebuked for electing Barnaby Joyce. Spend enough time on social media and you’ll see it littered with negative comments about New England voters, questioning our intelligence and our rusted-on support. Criticising us may be somewhat misguided and counter-productive, especially given not all of us support Barnaby. But can […]

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#AusVotes Day 25 – Shorten launches, Morrison rallies: @qldaah #qldpol

May 5, 2019 – Table of contents Former Prime Minister Paul Keating enters the campaign Scott Morrison rallies on the Central Coast Labor officially launches its campaign . Former Prime Minister Paul Keating enters the campaign Paul Keating surprised ABC journalists Jane Norman and Andrew Probyn at the Labor launch in Brisbane. . Scott Morrison […]

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#AusVotes Day 24 – Space invaders: @qldaah #qldpol

May 4, 2019 – Table of contents Is the black-throated finch threatened by Adani or is Adani threatened by the black-throated finch? Jason Modica making the government remember Mallee Stoking the fires of hatred Divers keeping climate action afloat Space invaders May the fourth be with you . Is the black-throated finch threatened by Adani […]

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#AusVotes Day 23 – Candidate clear out: @qldaah #qldpol

May 3, 2019 – Table of contents Extremist links to the Queensland LNP Labor’s plan to fix the NDIS UAP candidate mocked women and Muslims Adani’s plan for the black-throated finch rejected John Alexander tells Fijians to move to higher ground over climate change Herbert profile They’ll take our vegemite Return of the Barnaby Will […]

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#AusVotes Day 22 – Know thyself: @qldaah #qldpol

May 2, 2019 – Table of contents UAP candidates demonstrate the definition of insanity A guide to strategic voting for blue, red and green progressives in safe Coalition seats Jessica Whelan flees the media Wrangling over climate change policy costings continues Know thyself: Angus Taylor lampooned for liking himself on social media Qld LNP is […]

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Will the real @Barnaby_Joyce please show up: @NewEnglandLady4 reports on #NewEnglandVotes

When federal Member for New England Barnaby Joyce cheated on his wife Natalie, many of his supporters maintained that it was a personal matter and not newsworthy. If the only issue with Barnaby was that he had an extramarital affair, I would agree — people make mistakes — but the enduring anger isn’t simply about […]

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#AusVotes Day 21 – Extremists: @qldaah #qldpol

May 1, 2019 – Table of contents Ian Goodenough says he and Andrew Hastie briefly met with Neil Erikson Leaders with vision needed for climate action Not much change in Coalition immigration policy from 2018 numbers No deal with The Greens, says Labor Indi would make history if Independent succeeds Independent UAP candidate Stewart Hine […]

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#AusVotes Day 20 – Pauline loses another one: @qldaah #qldpol

April 30, 2019 – Table of contents Long walk to Canberra for climate action One Nation senate candidate Steve Dickson resigns The Nationals and One Nation closely aligned, says Michael McCormack Clermont horseman breaks down in court . Long walk to Canberra for climate action Wayne Jansson reports on Shannon Loughnane, a young man walking […]

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#AusVotes Day 19 – Happy pre-polling day: @qldaah #qldpol

April 29, 2019 – Table of contents Independent campaign in Farrer heats up after pastoralist backing Coalition believes childcare changes will lead to communism Happy pre-polling day . Independent campaign in Farrer heats up after pastoralist backing Wayne Jansson has been following the activity in the seat of Farrer where a rural pastoralist, Rob McBride, […]

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