Political hopeful Nigel Catchlove has hit the campaign trail in Eden-Monaro for the Liberal Party even though the party is yet to formally endorse its candidate for the Labor-held seat.
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Mr Catchlove - a self-professed 'Menzies Liberal' and ex-Army engineer from Yass - said he was taking every opportunity to boost his profile in the former bellwether seat and has launched his first missive on Labor over what he claims is its "ill-advised tax grab" on trusts.
He fired the salvo in letters to the editors of a number of regional newspapers, saying Labor failed to understand the "complex ebbs and flows" of money that sustained regional and rural communities.
Labor had effectively labelled the hard-working holders of the income-equalising trusts as "wealthy tax dodgers", Mr Catchlove said in his letter to the Magnet.
"Rural communities across the south-east of NSW will be much worse off if Bill Shorten is given the keys to The Lodge," he said.
He said it was not only primary producers who relied on trusts to "smooth" their income between good and bad years; small rural businesses were also reliant on a regular income stream from farmers.
Mr Catchlove – who is now a communications strategist – is the first Liberal to publicly announce his intention to stand for preselection for Eden-Monaro.
Speculation continues that Jerry Nockles of Queabeyan – an international relations expert and veteran of the first Gulf War who now works for the United Nations – will also seek preselection.
"Nigel is a good friend of mine of many years and I am very happy he has declared his intentions,” Dr Nockles, who formerly worked for Liberal MP Peter Hendy, told the Magnet on Wednesday.
“I am seriously considering putting my name forward when the party calls for nominations,” he said.
The Magnet understands that both Mr Catchlove and Dr Nockles will front a private "meet the candidate" Liberal function in October.
Eden-Monaro Liberals have been pushing for early preselection - preferably by the end of 2017 - saying it is their only chance of regaining the seat from Labor.