Riverina State movement aims for seats by next year
By Krista Schade
The founder of a movement to form a separate Riverina State hosted a public information meeting in Hay last Thursday.
Wakool resident and former National Party member David Landini shared his disillusionment with the current representation of country people in NSW.
“Since the 1966 census Hay’s population has fallen 30 per cent,” Mr Landini said.
“Larger places can afford to lose 20 members of the local tennis club. In Hay or Wakool, if we lose five members the club shuts.”
Mr Landini told the group issues around water rights and the timber industry needed to be better represented by those who live west of the Blue Mountains.
He plans to form a political party, and stand candidates at the upcoming NSW state election in March 2023.
“I think our candidates will get 10 per cent of the votes straight up,” he said. “That’s my opinion.”
In order to succeed from NSW, a referendum would need to be held within the new Riverina State area, which is not yet formally defined.
It is not the first time the concept has been floated.
In the 1850s and 1860 petitions were lodged with the NSW Legislative Assembly and in 1863 Queen Victoria herself was petitioned by the people of the Riverina.
Hay played a large part in these discussions, with vocal support from local businessmen, including Gideon Lang.
Lang and his brothers operated a punt across the Murrumbidgee River called ‘Lang’s Crossing Place’, which later became the township of Hay
Founder of The Riverina State movement David Landini with Judy Jarratt, who organised last week’s community meeting in Hay.
