Electorate of Indi
Dominated by Wodonga, the north-east Victorian electorate of Indi changed to include Benalla and Violet Town in the 2018 border reshuffle. Indi was held by the Liberals from 1977 to 2013, when independent Cathy McGowan took it from sitting member Sophie Mirabella.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Ms McGowan’s winning margin grew in 2016. In 2019 she stepped down and fellow Independent Helen Haines narrowly won in her place.
Independent: Helen Haines (incumbent)
A nurse and midwife, Helen Haines worked in rural health research for some time before turning to politics.
Key positions:
- Independent voice to restore integrity to politics.
- Drive local-owned renewable energy.
- Securing $300 million towards a new, world-class hospital in Albury-Wodonga.
- Pass laws to raise the bar on what is expected of NBN in the regions.
Liberal Party: Ross Lyman
Former Army officer and Wahgunyah resident Ross Lyman comes from a winemaking family and has worked across the Riverina for Treasury Wine Estates and McWilliam’s Wines Group.
Key positions:
- Infrastructure: Fight for investment that strengthens Indi. Road, rail, future fuels and renewable energy projects and health.
- Manufacturing: Work to attract more medium to large manufacturers to the region, including a focus on growing Indi’s defence manufacturing industry.
- Agriculture: Promote the use of digital technology, encourage succession planning and improve soil and water management.
- Trade and tourism: Work to open new markets and push for trade deals that benefit the region.
Nationals: Elizabeth Fisher
Elizabeth Fisher is a former NGO employee, current farmer and proud Rutherglen community leader. She’s got experience dealing with grant approvals and running a small business.
Key positions:
- Increase community infrastructure investment to help residents participate and volunteer while improving accessibility and connectedness.
- Ongoing telecommunications investment for reliable mobile and internet services, further reducing black spots, providing fast downloads, more access to telehealth, online education and ensuring safety in emergencies.
- Making sure local government areas have adequate funding for roads.
- Support the aged care sector to implement recommendations made by the royal commission to help nearly 31,000 senior Australians maintain quality of life.
Labor: Nadia David
Nadia David moved to Beechworth in 2016 with her young family to establish a horse stud. A passionate unionist, Ms David recently started campdrafting and getting into sustainable agriculture.
Key positions:
- Properly funded quality healthcare, aged care and childcare.
- Supporting unions and industry to pay fair wages and invest in secure local jobs.
- Working with all levels of government to secure affordable housing for locals.
- Take real action for a safer climate future.
Greens: Benjamin Gilbert
Benjamin Gilbert is campaigning on immediate climate change action, affordable housing and investment in renewable energy. He is a Yackandandah resident who has been described by the Mansfield Courier as a “sculptor and business owner”. The Greens are all about a strictly clean economy, free health and education, and high taxation on billionaires and big corporations.
United Australia Party: Stephen Williams
Stephen Williams moved to Indi in 2011 after being born and raised in Melbourne. He is now the owner-operator of Alpine Mowing in the Kiewa Valley. UAP policies tend to revolve around mining: processing minerals domestically, using mined uranium domestically for nuclear energy, and ending COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine passports.
Electorate of Farrer
In its 73 years of existence, the southern NSW seat of Farrer has been held by only four members: Liberal ministers David Fairbairn (1949-75) and Wal Fife (1975-84), former Nationals leader Tim Fischer (1984-2001) and Liberal minister Sussan Ley (2001-present). Being such a safe Coalition seat, incumbent Farrer MPs are rarely challenged.
Liberal Party: Sussan Ley (incumbent)
Sussan Ley is the Federal Environment Minister. She has been re-elected six time since first winning her seat, but her 2022 preselection process resulted in an internal Liberal Party brawl which needed Prime Minister Scott Morrison to intervene to save the minister from “factions within the Liberal Party”, according to the PM.
Key positions:
- Balanced outcome for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, finalise compliance work and water trading reform.
- Tackle cost of living, create more jobs and opportunities in Farrer, guarantee essential services.
- Deliver recommendations made by the Regional Telecommunications Review, which are vital to reducing the communication divide between city and bush.
- Continue to develop policies to maintain Farrer as the food bowl capital of Australia, including expanding outbound freight options
Greens: Eli Davern
Coming off a career high as the Albury Youth Mayor, Eli Davern plans to campaign on mental health, LGBTQ+ rights and climate change. How the 18-year-old high school student plans to juggle class while representing an electorate of 247,097 square kilometres remains to be seen, but it would be fascinating to watch it unfold. (See above: Benjamin Gilbert for Greens policies).
United Australia Party: Louis Ramos
Leeton-based Louis Ramos was inspired by his wife Julie to run in this election. Julie recently took on NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard in the state’s Supreme Court contesting COVID-19 health measures. Mr Ramos is a Leeton music teacher and will fight for freedom against government health measures and more money for education. (See above: Stephen Williams for UAP policies).
Great Australian Party: Mistie Sibraa
Based in Finley, Mistie Sibraa is a young nurse who left the profession after refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Great Australian Party policies include firearm ownership being a right, strong protection for native animals and creating a ‘National Tribal Federation’ to unite First Nations peoples (no mention of a treaty) and overhaul all land rights legislation.
Journalist