Greens name candidate for next year’s state election

Mandy Nolan has been selected as the Greens candidate to contest the State seat of Ballina at the 2027 NSW state election.

The Mullumbimby-based comedian was chosen following a Greens preselection ballot, after incumbent MP for Ballina Tamara Smith announced her retirement ahead of the upcoming election.

Byron Shire mayor Sarah Ndiaye and Ballina councillor Kiri Dicker were also contenders for the party’s endorsement.

Nolan has lived in the Byron Shire for more than three decades, where she has raised five children, volunteered with community organisations including The SHIFT Project and the Country Women’s Association, and authored five books. She has also stood as the Greens candidate for the federal seat of Richmond at the past two elections.

“I thank the Greens membership for choosing me as their candidate for the seat of Ballina,” Nolan said. “I am excited about the opportunity to represent my community, to listen to the electorate, to advocate for those in need, and if elected it would be my absolute privilege to continue the important work of our Greens MP Tamara Smith.”

Smith said she was delighted that Nolan had been preselected.

“Mandy is a grassroots candidate who has been a member of the Greens since the mid ‘90s,” she said. “She has not only supported every Greens campaign we have run in the Northern Rivers at every level of government in the last 30 years, but she grew our vote significantly as our Federal candidate for Richmond.

“Mandy is community minded, smart, humble, and truly listens to people. I have watched her solve problems big and small with our community and her advocacy and public profile is second to none. If anyone can win the seat for us in 2027 it is Mandy and I look forward to doing everything I can to support her campaign.”