Electorate of Nicholls
This northern Victorian seat has been held by Nationals MP Damian Drum since 2016 but he’s retiring from politics, leaving an open field. Before Mr Drum the seat (formerly known as Murray) was held by Liberal Sharman Stone, but before her it had always belonged to the Country/National party.
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Nationals: Sam Birrell
Born in Murchison, Sam Birrell has spent his career working on farms. In 2016, he became chief executive of Committee for Greater Shepparton and remained in that role until last year.
Key positions:
- No more water from the consumptive pool, no 450 Gl to South Australia.
- Pushing through the Ag Visa to address the worker shortage on farms.
- Development of regional towns to create better communities, increase local employment options and living conditions.
- Making the transition to a low-emissions future while sustaining the economy.
Independent: Rob Priestly
Born in Katandra on a dairy farm, Rob Priestly is a commercial laundry businessman and former deputy mayor of Shepparton. Mr Priestly believes Nicholls has no voice in Canberra because it is one of the safest Coalition seats in Australia.
Key positions:
- Defer water recovery under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
- Address workforce issues in the health professions.
- Increase Australian manufacturing.
- Use the net zero transition to create a bioenergy industry in Nicholls from agricultural/animal waste.
Liberal Party: Steve Brooks
Cobram school teacher and orchardist Steve (Stephen) Brooks has thrown his name into the Liberal hat. In his words, “if you don’t do it, who will?”.
Key positions:
- Farmers: ensuring water security for food producers.
- Supporting families: improving health services, childcare, aged care and educational outcomes.
- Fighting for business: addressing labour shortages, investing in infrastructure.
- Prioritising environmental sustainability: addressing climate change, protecting natural environmental and wildlife.
Labor Party: Candidate not yet announced.
Citizens Party: Jeff Davy
Long-time Murray/Nicholls voters might recognise this name from their past ballot papers. Jeff Davy is Katunga raised and a former dairy farmer. The Citizens Party runs with big reform as its platform — complete overhaul of the banking system, end of globalisation and return of local manufacturing.
One Nation: Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell
Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell is a former dairy farmer who is now working in the industry as a farm manager. One Nation runs on polices such as: banning the sale of water to foreign investors, banning the sale of prime agricultural land to foreign interests and implementing a “net-zero migration” policy which only allows highly skilled migrants to enter Australia.
United Australia Party: Robert Peterson
A Seymour GP for more than 40 years, Robert Peterson is now retired from the medical profession and is running to protest the use of messenger RNA (mRNA) in COVID-19 vaccinations. 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 Mallee
Running from Mildura to Cohuna and all the way to Horsham, Mallee has always been held by the Country/National party since its creation in 1949. Anything other than a Nationals win will be an earth-shattering result for this seat.
Nationals: Anne Webster
Sitting member Anne Webster is a professional scholar, with a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Work and a PhD on adoption. Her time as an MP has been a quiet one, with Dr Webster putting a lot of her effort into sitting on a number of parliamentary policy committees in Canberra.
Key positions:
- Passionate about access to quality healthcare in regional Australia.
- Better roads, infrastructure and connectivity.
- Building the workforce and developing skills for regional industries and business to thrive.
- Ensuring clean, healthy waterways in addition to affordable and sustainable energy, ensuring a secure future for the environment and farmers.
United Australia Party: Stuart King
Stuart King is a Swan Hill councillor, small business owner and former farmer. Mr King has aligned with the Clive Palmer party because he’s sick of government bureaucracy and COVID-19 restrictions.
Independent: Sophie Baldwin
Full disclosure: Sophie Baldwin used to work for Country News before being appointed chief executive officer of Southern Riverina Irrigators in 2020. A former Gunbower dairy farmer, Ms Baldwin is promising to be honest, loyal to the people of Mallee and turn the safe conservative seat into a competitive electorate that can attract greater funding. Her colour is pink because “all the others were taken”.
Independent: Claudia Haenel
Claudia Haenel comes from the underside of Mallee. A Horsham councillor, Ms Haenel wants to shake off the ‘safe, stronghold’ reputation Mallee has and bring fresh representation to Canberra. She wants businesses and farms to become more self-sufficient by creating their own practical solutions.
Citizens Party: Chris Lahy
A refrigeration technician from Lake Boga, Mr Lahy is passionate about the future of agriculture since his family was driven out of the dairy industry more than 15 years ago. He’s keen on water politics and disability care.
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