13 Jul 2011

ACT candidate aims to strengthen farmers' voice

9:40 am on 13 July 2011

Former Federated Farmers president Don Nicolson says he's had strong support from the farming sector to stand for the ACT party.

Mr Nicolson announced on Tuesday that he would stand for ACT in the Clutha-Southland electorate at the general election on 26 November.

His three-year term as Federated Farmers national president ended earlier this month.

Don Nicolson says he will be campaigning hard against the Resource Management Act and the emissions trading scheme.

He says the farming sector has been treated poorly in recent times and he wants to strengthen its voice in Parliament.

Mr Nicolson is the latest ACT Party candidate who has come from outside the party.

Leader Don Brash was a National Party member when he decided to make a bid for the ACT leadership, while the party's Epsom candidate, John Banks, is a former National Party cabinet minister.

Hong-Kong based lawyer, Cathy Odgers, who writes the Cactus Kate blog, has also put herself forward as a candidate. The ACT board will finalise the party's list at the end of the month.