MEMBERS from Roma to Brisbane and as far South as Sydney gathered the Victoria Hotel in Goondiwindi for a special general meeting of the fledgling CountryMinded political party on Wednesday, September 30, when they voted to rebrand the party and ratified the election of their National Executive.
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Formed as the Country Party of Australia, CountryMinded will register with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) in time for next year’s federal election.
Executive chairman Peter Mailler said an alternative name had to be decided upon, following the sudden decision by an unrelated Victorian party to rename itself as the Australian Country Party in August, which left the Queensland party unable to register its initial name with the AEC.
The meeting achieved its objectives easily and at the same time provided an emphatic reaffirmation of the real need for better political representation, especially in rural and regional Australia
- Executive chairman Peter Mailler
“CountryMinded is the new name for the Party,” Mr Mailler said.
“The meeting achieved its objectives easily and at the same time provided an emphatic reaffirmation of the real need for better political representation, especially in rural and regional Australia.”
Accepted changes to the party’s constitution allow party endorsement for candidates for all three tiers of government were also made at the meeting, along with the election of a national executive.
“CountryMinded is a party for everyone who recognises the value of maintaining a viable and resilient regional economy and culture for a prosperous nation,” Mr Mailler said.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall welcomed the news.
“I think it’s fabulous that there are people out there who are taking an interest in democracy and in regional development and growing regional areas. Certainly that’s what drives me. That’s why I’m in politics,” Mr Marshall said.
“More people getting together that share that vision only strengthens our armours as rural people.”
Senator John William’s view of CountryMinded is slightly more personal.
“The name Peter Mailler reminds me of prior to the 2013 election, when I was on a hook-up to ABC Tamworth with Kelly Fuller,” Senator Williams said.
“There was Doug Cameron, Peter Mailler and the Greens candidate for the Senate. Peter Mailler said I would get re-elected, the Coalition would win and we would sell Graincorp to ADN. He said ‘Nothing surer’.
“Well Barnaby Joyce brought that to a stop, and I’m still waiting for an apology from Peter Mailler. So I don’t care what he calls his party. They’re my thoughts on it.”
