ANTI-corruption crusader John Hatton wants an Albury resident to run in his team of independents at next year’s state election.
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He labelled the Border city “the forgotten corner of NSW”.
“You’ve got people trying to have a foot in each camp and this makes the job of the local member and of the local council extremely difficult,” he said.
“I see it as a structural problem. You’ve got two local governments, two states, divided loyalties, and divided representation.”
Mr Hatton said the focus should be on real issues, not politics.
“I’m not interested in band-aids,” he said.
“I’m interested in process.”
Mr Hatton was speaking at the Local Government Conference in Albury yesterday and announced he would take his latest fight to the NSW lower house.
The man who brought down a NSW police commissioner said he had received no nominations from Albury residents so far but would launch a statewide search for candidates.
Mr Hatton, whose campaigning led to the establishment of the Wood royal commission into police corruption, has come out of a 15-year retirement from state politics to stand in the upper house at the March 26 election.
He was portrayed by actor John Waters in the latest Underbelly crime series The Golden Mile.
The corruption fighter said he had held several interviews already and would formally announce candidates soon.
Mr Hatton said he wanted to create a “fourth force” in state politics after becoming incensed at the level of corruption in the state.
He encouraged “self-starters” from the Albury area to apply, adding the move will mean “big changes” for NSW.
Mr Hatton’s running mate, Ian Scandrett, said a senior Labor powerbroker estimated as much as 30 per cent of lower house seats could be held by independents after the election, providing an alternative to the major parties.
“It could be the emergence of a significant force,” Mr Scandrett said.
Mr Hatton will today hold a public meeting on local and state issues at the Albury Club from 10am.