New England voters will get at least seven opportunities to watch their candidates go head-to-head this election at community forums.
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Meet the candidate debates have been locked in across the electorate, with one in Armidale, hosted by the business chamber on Thursday, May 9.
The first will be in Tenterfield on April 24, while Inverell, Caroona and Murrurundi will host debates in the first week of May.
At the 2017 by-election, New England MP Barnaby Joyce refused to do any public debates because too many of the 16 candidates were "out-of-towners".
However, Mr Joyce said this campaign was a different story.
"I'm happy to, and I want to, do debates," Mr Joyce said.
"However, I'm not going to do 10, I'm going to do a couple and then get back to campaigning.
"Debates are important, but so are the small constituent groups across the electorate. There are more towns than days in the election campaign."
Independent candidate Adam Blakester challenged Mr Joyce to do "as many debates as humanely possible".
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Pre-polling will open in two weeks, on April 29, and while up to a third of the electorate usually casts a vote early, Mr Blakester is urging voters to put their visit to the ballot box on hold.
"We're asking voters to give other candidates the chance to be heard, and compare us against the incumbent," Mr Blakester said.
"That's why right across the electorate, community groups are organising these forums. Together, they're asking voters to give us a chance to put our case forward, and to hear what our policies and credentials are."
Labor candidate Yvonne Langenberg said public candidate debates had never been more crucial.
"It's really important at this time in Australian politics, everyone has become so disenfranchised and cynical about politics," she said.
"People have to know who, and what, they're voting for. The incumbent should be able to stand up for what he has done and what he thinks the future holds."
The Express understands there are also plans for meet the candidate forums in Bingara and Glen Innes, however they are yet to be confirmed.
The Meet the Candidates night in Armidale on Thursday, May 9, will be held at Armidale City Bowling Club, starting at 6pm.
Jamieson Murphy
Newcastle Herald news director. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Newcastle Herald news director. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
