The Australian Labor Party has announced Patrick Deegan will be Labor’s candidate for Page at the upcoming federal election.

Mr Deegan told the Lismore App the Labor Party held their pre-selection during October and he emerged as the successful candidate.

“The reality is the people of this area just don’t get their fair share. The National Party tends to take their seat for granted,” Mr Deegan said.

Mr Deegan is a social welfare professional and has held management positions in the State Government and the community sector. He has extensive experience in administrative and financial management, and was Labor’s candidate for Page in the 2019 Federal election.

“At the last election there were swings against Labor, we’re bringing a different set of policies to this election. I’ll be really advocating and focused on things that impact this area, particularly businesses impacted by Covid,” Deegan explained.

“I’m excited to be running for Page, and determined to give our region the voice in Canberra that it desperately needs,” Mr Deegan said.

“When people see my name on the ballot paper, they’ll know what they‘re getting: a candidate who understands them, who will fight for them, and who they can trust.”

Mr Deegan said, “people across Northern NSW had faced incredible challenges over the past three years, including devastating bush fires, floods, and now the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“As we continue to recover from these natural disasters and prepare to move out of the pandemic, we also need to look ahead and rebuild for the future,” Mr Deegan said.

“That’s why we can’t afford to continue muddling through with a ‘business as usual’ approach. The world is changing, and now – more than ever- we need leadership and courage from our politicians.”

“For example, the pandemic has increased the exodus of people looking to move from the cities to the regions – leading to soaring rental and house prices.”

“Many people who have never experienced homelessness and housing insecurity are now facing a crisis.”

“One of my priorities will be to ensure all levels of government, service providers and stakeholders come together to find workable local solutions.”

Mr Deegan said, “the Page electorate had been neglected by the Liberal-National Party Government for the past eight years.”

“We’ve seen funding cuts to schools, TAFE and Southern Cross University. Medicare is under attack, and working families and businesses are struggling.”

“People gave Kevin Hogan the benefit of the doubt at the last election when he claimed to be moving to the ‘cross-bench’ in order to distance himself from the Morrison Government, but he can only pull that stunt once.”

“This time, Mr Hogan is the Assistant Minister to Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. The fact is that a vote for Kevin Hogan is a vote for Barnaby Joyce, Peter Dutton, Christian Porter and Scott Morrison.”

“Australia needs a new Federal Government, and I will be giving it everything to ensure that the people of Page have a strong and effective voice in the next national Parliament.”

Mr Deegan is also running for a seat on the Richmond Valley Council and says he’s committed to both.

“I am still a candidate for council, it is possible to do both. I guess by doing that I’m really showing my commitment to the area, issues that impact on a local level are also state and federal issues,” he said.

The federal election will be scheduled sometime before the end of May 2020.