I’ve spent my life in regional Australia. I’ve never seen the political landscape as broken as it is right now, especially in Riverina. More and more people tell me they can’t tell the difference between Labor and the Nationals anymore. Frankly, I don’t blame them.

Both major parties seem more interested in looking after Canberra lobbyists and corporate donors than the people they’re supposed to represent. Meanwhile, everyday Riverina families are left wondering who’s actually speaking for them. As someone who’s spent years actually in the trenches with the community, listening to locals and working hard to get results, I can tell you, it’s not the present member.

Michael McCormack’s record speaks for itself. His initial support for the Voice to Parliament referendum earned him an endorsement from, of all people, Noel Pearson and flew in the face of both my values and, it turned out, the values of 75 per cent of his electorate. Later, he shifted his position to support the ‘No’ campaign.

McCormack’s ongoing commitment to Net Zero and large-scale renewable energy schemes might play well with inner-city think tanks. Here in Riverina, though, where livelihoods depend on farming and energy security, his Net Zero fantasies are little more than reckless. An enormous $170 million solar farm is about to be developed in Yass, itself strongly opposed by the community for years. McCormack, of course, stays silent. He’d be well advised to check out the situation in Emerald, Queensland, where the sprawling solar park up there overtook hectares of prime agricultural land, much to the ire of the town’s farmers. Needless to say, I am publicly opposing the proposal in Yass.

The ironic thing, of course, is that both the Voice and Net Zero are priorities inline not with the (supposed) manifesto of the National Party, but Labor. Anyone voting Labor in the country is, I think, making a serious error of judgment. Anthony Albanese, Jim Chalmers, Penny Wong, Chris Bowen – these are not champions of the working class. They’re career bureaucrats and union leaders who have sold out their former colleagues for political posts and now live isolated within the sanctity of the Canberra bubble.

Riverina, itself a Federation seat, hasn’t always voted National. The region’s list of past representatives has included Protectionists and Free Traders. We’re a seat with a proudly democratic spirit, a history of putting ourselves first. That’s something worth honouring, not trading away for contemporary party loyalties.

I’m standing as a candidate for the Australian Citizens Party because I believe in real representation, not media spin, party games or policies cooked up by people who’ve never set foot in our towns. It’s time we had a federal member who’s a true champion for our region, our people, and our industries. Someone who isn’t afraid to say what’s right and do what’s needed.

Usually, a candidate would leave it at the rhetoric. But, no, I’ve gone further, because I’m not just puff. This election matters to me because it matters to the people of Riverina, and that’s why I’m taking it seriously. If you head over to my website, you’ll find a whole suite of policy proposals spanning local and national issues. I want to end the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Scheme (PCSS) which sees hardworking taxpayers spend $730 million each year on pensions for retired politicians. I want both energy and food security for Riverina, as well as economic and geopolitical sovereignty for Australia. I’ve even completed draft legislation for an inland heavy rail bypass, which would lead regional industry to boom.

So, I like to think I’m not asking for blind support. And, above all, I want to hear from you, the people. If you’ve got concerns, wherever you are in Australia, feel free to drop me a line through the contact form on my website. Representative democracy isn’t about the representative. It’s about the constituency they represent. I think it’s pretty safe to say that both Michael McCormack and Anthony Albanese have forgotten that.

I’m asking for a chance to prove that politics can be done differently. With integrity. With grit. With vision. And above all, with grace and respect towards the good people of Riverina, rather than fealty to some faceless party machine.

It’s time for common sense. It’s time for transparency. It’s time for change. This time, let’s take the fight to the uniparty.

Cr Richard Foley currently serves as an independent Wagga Wagga City councillor. Get involved with Richard’s campaign to win Riverina here.