The battle for the Federal seat of Calare, of which Canowindra is part, is now a three way contest with Kate Hook, who stood as an Independent at the 2022 election announcing her candidature.
As of last week, Ms Hook, current member Andrew Gee (Independent) and National’s candidate Sam Farraway are the only confirmed candidates for Calare ahead of the 2025 election.
“I never planned to go into politics but I feel someone has to stand up for the community,” the mother of four said.
“We deserve a government that gets behind us. After years of failure to plan for climate and the regional economy we have to ask ourselves, who are our political parties working for, it sure isn’t us.
“I’m standing up for proper resilience planning, fairer water management for farmers and towns, better infrastructure, smarter trading relationships,” she said.
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Ms Hook said she is also for easily accessible health care, affordable housing and quality equitable education for everyone in Calare.
“I’ll always put people before Party,” Ms Hook said.
Last election, Ms Hook announced she was running just three months before polling day but was more than pleased with her vote tally given the shortness of her campaign.
Ms Hook received 20 per cent of the primary vote and 40 per cent after preferences.
Current member Andrew Gee topped the poll with 47 per cent of the vote as a candidate for the National Party.
He has since left the National Party paving the way for Mr Farraway to leave the NSW Upper House to run as the Nationals candidate in 2025.
Ms Hook grew up in Wagga Wagga, later moving to Sydney, and then settling in Orange in 2004 with her four children.
With a background in the corporate world and the renewables sector, Ms Hook said her approach to major issues in the Calare region is driven by "evidence-based policy positions".
She said she has spent the last two years helping communities across NSW advocate for their needs with renewable energy projects, ensuring communities get a seat at the table and a large slice of the benefits.
Ms Hook has resigned from her job with the Australian Renewable Energy Alliance (RE-alliance) to commit herself full-time to her campaign.
RE-Alliance, is working to secure a renewable energy shift that strengthens and renews regional and rural Australia.
Ms Hook is holding a meet and greet at the Royal Hotel on Wednesday, December 11 between 6pm and 8pm.
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, The Greens, Labor, The Nationals and United Australia Party all ran candidates in Calare in 2022.
