THE preselection panel of the NSW branch of the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party has confirmed the election of party chairman Mr Mark Banasiak to head the Upper House ticket in the number one position, for the March 23 NSW State election.
Mark is a school teacher, father and long-time member of the party, volunteer and organiser at elections and one of the senior party executives.
Mark replaces the Hon. Robert Brown who has served the party since 2006 when he took the casual vacancy upon the retirement of the Hon. John Tingle.
The preselection committee also elected Brett Cooke to be in the number two position on the ticket. The party is hopeful of picking up an additional seat in the Upper House.
In an article in its newsletter, the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) of NSW says that it would like to thank Robert Brown for “his long standing open door policy with the RFA and its members and for providing a steady hand in guiding the RFA down the dark corridors of the NSW Parliament and for all his support over many years”.
In 2008 Robert provided invaluable assistance to freshwater anglers in their campaign to stop the government’s closure of the Gaden Trout Hatchery at Jindabyne. More recently, the $2.5 million dollars used to pay for the Southern Sydney Artificial Offshore Reef would not have been possible without Robert Brown and the SFFP standing shoulder to shoulder with the RFA of NSW, ANSA NSW and the local fishing club, nor the $2.5 million still waiting to be spent on a new boat ramp and fishing platform in Botany Bay.
