HE’S shorn sheep, picked fruit, volunteered in Kenyan schools and worked for a minister and now Scott Barrett wants to be the member for Orange.
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Born and raised in Orange, the 37-year-old has spent almost two years working as a senior policy adviser for NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Lands and Water Niall Blair.
But once sitting member Andrew Gee steps down from the role to pursue the seat of Calare in the federal election, Mr Barrett hopes to move closer to home and Nationals sources say he could be the front-runner.
“To me, this region has so much potential in expanding the jobs base, value adding in agriculture - that has slipped away a bit and the opportunity we have for that is immense,” Mr Barrett said.
“There’s the opportunity to cement itself as a real health hub for NSW and the other key is the access to Sydney, not just for people to enjoy Sydney, but the product to port connection as well.”
Mr Barrett spent much of his childhood playing sport.
“The first year [working for Mr Blair] I was still playing footy out here every weekend, so I got to know that road pretty well,” he said.
The son of a shearer, Mr Barrett also found himself in seasonal work, from shearing to fruit picking, goat mustering, fence building and real estate.
Asked whether he had encountered perceptions he was being parachuted into the seat because he had worked for Mr Blair, he said the members would decide.
“I can see the concern because there are people in politics who graduate from uni and that’s their career, but that’s not the case with the path I’ve followed,” he said.
“The reason I was given the opportunity was because of the experience I have and the value that could offer.”
Nominations for the Orange preselection will be called after federal nominations close on June 9.