Meet Craig Garland, the eccentric fisherman who could decide Braddon's by-election

One of the few fine-mesh fishermen in the region, Mr. Garland is one of the recreational fishermen and ecologists opposed to the state's large-scale industrial salmon ranchers: Huon, Petuna and Tbadal [19659002]. beyond this niche, connect with dissatisfied working-clbad voters and even some liberals. At Garland's – who has spent years living in a beach hut at Rocky Cape – they see an authentic voice who knows his patch and pulls it right.

"The parties are the problem," says Garland. "I told the Labor Party that [when] I met them a few weeks ago, I told them that I was a worker, that I worked all my life and that I had all my comrades, but where were you? "

To say that Garland's campaign is made of bare bones would be a severe understatement, and most of its popularity is generated by social media and word-of-mouth. He expects to spend only $ 3,000 on leaflets and voting cards and will direct preferences to Shooters and Fishers first, then Greens, then Labor. Mr. Garland is almost certain to be third, this could be a crucial boost for Labor candidate Justine Keay.

"She cares about the community," he says. "While [Liberal candidate] Brett Whiteley and his crew, they do not care. "

The Liberals painted Mr. Garland as an" extreme green ", trying to bind to the minor party that is deeply unpopular in this matter. part of the state. After Mr. Garland did not attend a forest industry event on Wednesday, Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz issued a press release saying Garland "was greener and more green "

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"If people attack you, you know you've shaken them," says Garland. "As soon as I heard them a few weekends, I said" Ahh, you're worried – well they should be. "

Journalist Sean Ford, who covered the policy for Bradford for Advocate for 30 years, believes that Mr. Garland will play "absolutely" a central role in this by-election.

"He is very strongly appealing to a significant minority of people … I would not be surprised if he ended up with 10 percent of the vote," says Ford. "If his preferences significantly favor the liberals or the Labor, this crowd will probably win. "