THE only independent candidate in Farrer is also the campaign manager of a fellow contender for the seat.
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The deal was outlined at an ABC radio Riverina forum in Deniliquin on Tuesday which featured all the candidates for the safe Liberal electorate held by Health Minister Sussan Ley.
Independent Brian Mills said he had recruited his Griffith neighbour Trevor O'Brien to run for the Mature Australia Party after having declined an offer from it.
"When I said 'I won't be your candidate' I went across to my neighbour and said 'how would you like to be a pretend candidate?'" he said.
"I said 'I would be with you all the way' and he's now the candidate and he's going like a rocket."
Mr O'Brien said he and Mills "are both in it together".
"My Mature Party are backing me all the way, as well as Brian giving me information and guiding me in what I need to do," he said.
Mr O'Brien was asked if it was like the MAP having two candidates, one of them masquerading as an independent?
"That's correct," he replied.
The forum had a focus on water issues with the Murray-Darling basin plan and the recently announced $500 million pipeline from the Murray River to Broken Hill featured.
Ms Ley said the pipe was vital and would save water.
"Everything is connected, this is not taking water out of one system..that can't therefore by offset by a transfer...between the Murrumbidgee and Murray valleys or down the Darling," Ms Ley said.
"Overall this is going to save water because a pipeline doesn't evaporate and it is going to give Broken Hill what it absolutely deserves which is a clean, reliable supply of drinking water."
Australian Liberty Alliance candidate Ron Pike blasted the pipeline plan.
"This is the most asinine stupid idea ever," Mr Pike said.
"We built Menindee Lakes to ensure that Broken Hill would always have water, they hold 1.6 megalitres and they were full two years ago, the only reason they're dry is because under the plan implemented by this government they were drained for no practical reason."
A spokesman for the Australian Electoral Commission said a candidate is entitled to run as an independent despite views or ties to a party.
