02/05/2025
Here is an informative article detailing the eight candidates contesting Avoca's seat of Mallee at today's Australian Federal Election – a list that includes Ampitheatre resident Jeff Barry. 🗳️
With the 2025 Australian federal election locked in for Saturday the 3rd of May, attention turns to the sprawling regional electorate of Mallee – which includes Maryborough and surrounds – where eight candidates are vying for a seat long considered one of the most secure conservative strongholds in the country.
Nationals MP Anne Webster, who succeeded Andrew Broad in 2019, remains the frontrunner, and is expected to retain her seat. However, whether she can match her commanding 49 percent primary vote from the previous election is uncertain, as political tides continue to shift across regional Australia.
Webster’s predecessor, Andrew Broad, had once been seen as a long-term fixture in Mallee. That changed abruptly in late 2018, when New Idea – in an unexpected foray into political reporting – revealed that Broad had used a ‘sugar daddy’ dating website during an official trip to Hong Kong.
The publication of flirtatious exchanges with a young woman known as ‘Sweet Sophia Rose’ caused significant embarrassment for Broad, particularly given his public advocacy for traditional family values. The backlash was swift, and Broad soon announced he would not contest the 2019 election, clearing the way for Webster’s anointment.
Voter dissatisfaction with the major parties has become a defining feature of the political landscape across the country this election cycle, and Mallee is no exception. What has traditionally been a contest between two dominant forces has increasingly become a fragmented race where smaller parties and independent candidates find fertile ground among voters who feel ignored, dismissed or betrayed by the political establishment.
In towns across Mallee – most notably Maryborough and its surrounds – voters are voicing a deepening disillusionment with the traditional parties – state Labor in particular – saying they no longer reflect the interests or values of ordinary Australians.
The perception is that both Labor and the Coalition not only represent bureaucrats, institutions, the party hierarchy and their corporate donors, but have also become too aligned with big business, big pharma, vaccine manufacturers, the major banks, and unelected global organisations. Many voters say the majors have drifted away from community issues and have become entangled in a web of influence that serves the interests of the powerful over those of everyday people.
This growing disenfranchisement is not merely about individual policies or leaders, but a broader sense that the political system itself is no longer working in the public’s favour. In a climate of rising cost of living pressures, housing insecurity and regional neglect – throughout not just the Central Goldfields, but across the entire nation – the belief that Canberra is out of touch is driving voters to seek alternatives.
Contesting the seat of Mallee this election – in the order they appear on the ballot – are Nicole Rowan for the Greens, incumbent MP Anne Webster for the Nationals, Chris Lahy for the Australian Citizens Party, Adam Veitch for Trumpet of Patriots, Greg Olsen for Labor, Vaughan Williams for One Nation, Jeff Barry for the Libertarian Party and Ashleigh Gray for Family First.
Nicole Rowan, a lawyer by profession, first contested the seat of Mallee for the Greens in 2019 – receiving 3.5 percent of the vote in a crowded field of 13 candidates – and has remained an active advocate for progressive reform in regional Victoria, actively campaigning in the state’s north this past week.
Despite the Greens’ long-standing presence in the electorate, the party has never secured more than 8 percent of the primary vote – a reflection of the region’s conservative foundations and the uphill battle Greens candidates face in rural areas.
Preferencing Labor above all others, Rowan is campaigning on a platform focused on climate action, social justice and regional equity. “We’re in a housing crisis and regional Victoria is being left behind,” she said. “Labor and the Coalition are both backing new coal and gas and worsening the climate crisis. Meanwhile, regional Victoria is experiencing more climate-related disasters, more often, including bushfires and floods.”
Her message targets voters seeking long-term environmental and structural reform, though the road to a significant breakthrough remains challenging, with hostility toward the Greens among parts of the electorate appearing to be at an all-time high.
The Australian Citizens Party – formerly known as the Citizens Electoral Council – is fielding Chris Lahy for the sixth time overall, and fifth in a row. A familiar figure to Mallee voters, the 57-year-old from Lake Boga works part-time as a landscape gardener while caring for an elderly family member and his son, who has a disability.
Lahy has long campaigned against free-market economic policies, which he says have devastated the rural sector. He argues for large-scale infrastructure projects in water, energy and transport, funded by a government-owned national bank, as a way to revive struggling communities.
A vocal critic of speculative water trading, Lahy is pushing for tighter safeguards to protect farmers from market manipulation. Highlighting the cost-of-living crisis, soaring interest rates and the challenges facing younger generations, he’s also campaigning for free tertiary education, more affordable housing, and stronger investment in regional training and skills development.
In a move that has raised a few eyebrows, Lahy has preferenced One Nation and the Greens as his top two picks – an unusual pairing that reflects his individual approach to politics. Meanwhile, he’s placed both the Nationals and Labor at the very bottom, signalling his discontent with the political establishment.
Trumpet of Patriots – a populist vehicle following in the footsteps of Clive Palmer’s previous political outfits – is hoping to capitalise on the momentum gained in 2022, when United Australia Party candidate Stuart King polled a notable 9 percent in Mallee.
This year, Adam Veitch will carry the banner, which continues to attract support from voters dissatisfied with the traditional political options. “The Trumpet of Patriots is focused on democracy, individual freedoms, free speech, reducing government intrusion in our lives, breaking the duopoly, real choice, and real liberty,” reported the party.
While the movement retains a national presence – with United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet set to remain in the state’s upper house for the next three years – it does not carry quite the same weight as it did during the last election cycle. Nonetheless, Veitch is expected to appeal to a segment of the electorate still seeking a clear break from the major parties.
One Nation’s Vaughan Williams – a former councillor for the City of Greater Bendigo – is expected to attract a solid protest vote in Mallee, particularly from disillusioned Nationals supporters frustrated with what they see as the Coalition’s drift away from traditional conservative Australian values.
Williams has laid out a broad regional platform focused on practical improvements, including reforming water buyback schemes, investing in better roads, more reliable internet, upgraded rail networks and stronger healthcare access in regional communities.
He is advocating for new incentives to attract doctors, economic diversification through support for emerging industries and small businesses, and a reduction in red tape for farmers.
His wider policy agenda includes cutting government waste, reducing immigration to sustainable levels, ensuring affordable and reliable power by embracing all energy sources – including nuclear, coal and gas – and advocating for fairer tax policies to ease cost-of-living pressures on rural Australians.
“Our government should serve its people, not the interests of unelected international bodies,” Williams stressed. “We must reclaim control of our industries, protect our farmers, and support Australian businesses so we can rebuild our economy and secure a prosperous future for generations to come.”
The Libertarian Party – formerly known as the Liberal Democrats – will be contesting Mallee for the first time, introducing a new pro-liberty, small-government voice to the regional race. Representing the party is Jeff Barry, a no-nonsense regional farmer who has grown increasingly frustrated with what he sees as city-centric decision-making.
Barry is campaigning on a platform of individual freedom, property rights and limited government, reflecting the party’s broader philosophy of empowering citizens by reducing bureaucratic overreach and taxation. He’s also a vocal supporter of ‘Rexit’ – the push for self-governance in the Murray-Riverlands – and is positioning himself as a grassroots advocate who understands the unique challenges facing rural Australians.
The refounded Family First Party is returning to the contest in Mallee for the first time since 2013, aiming to reconnect with the electorate’s socially conservative base and position itself as a principled alternative.
This year’s candidate, Ashleigh Gray, has lived in Mildura for the past 18 years and worked across a number of locally established NGOs as well as The Salvation Army, in roles that have allowed him to support some of the most disadvantaged people in the community.
“Throughout his life, Ashleigh has championed the importance of traditional family values, believing that strong families are the foundation of a thriving nation," reported Family First. "Ashleigh has worked toward creating opportunities that allow families to succeed, with a focus on preserving the sanctity of life, keeping girls and women safe, and protecting the rights of children.”
While Family First campaigns on moral independence, its how-to-vote cards suggest otherwise, directing preferences to the Coalition ahead of other minor parties. Critics say this undermines its claim to be an alternative voice and instead reinforces the political status quo – effectively acting as a preference funnel to shore up Anne Webster’s re-election.
As for Labor, it faces its own set of challenges in Mallee, and the party’s declining fortunes in parts of the electorate have become increasingly difficult to ignore. Nowhere was this more apparent than in Maryborough at the 2022 federal election, where Labor suffered a dramatic collapse in primary vote support.
Across the town’s two polling centres, Labor’s vote fell from nearly 38 percent in 2019 to just 25 percent, despite facing a far less crowded field of candidates than in the previous election. It was an unprecedented drop in what was once considered a reliable Labor stronghold, and a warning sign that the party’s grip on many parts of regional Victoria is slipping.
A number of factors have contributed to this erosion of support. At the state level, the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party has been embroiled in numerous scandals and controversies, and as a result, is increasingly alienated from large sections of the electorate.
The party has faced strong public backlash over its environmental and animal management policies, including mass cullings of native brumbies, kangaroos and now even koalas, which many local residents view as emblematic of a government out of step with rural values and community sentiment.
Labor’s continued support for recreational duck hunting, despite calls from animal welfare groups and sections of the public to ban the practice, has only added to the perception that the party is tone-deaf to the views of many ordinary Victorians.
Further damaging Labor’s reputation in the region are lingering frustrations stemming from the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns under then-Premier Daniel Andrews. New revelations recently emerged that the widely criticised curfew – which sparked statewide protests and widespread resentment – was not in fact recommended by the Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton, nor by Victoria Police.
It has now become clear that the curfew was a political decision imposed by Premier Andrews and then-deputy Premier Jacinta Allan, who succeeded him as the anointed Premier in 2023. For many, the curfew came to symbolise heavy-handed governance and a lack of transparency, particularly in regional areas that felt unfairly subjected to restrictions.
This accumulation of issues, among many others, has significantly damaged the Labor brand across regional Victoria, but particularly in communities like Maryborough, where many voters feel neglected and misrepresented. The party, once seen as a defender of working-class values, is now increasingly viewed in the Central Goldfields as aligned with bureaucratic overreach and an unwillingness to change or adapt.
As local resentment for the party continues to run deep across social media, the 2025 contest is shaping up to be an uphill battle for Labor’s candidate Greg Olsen, who grew up in Castlemaine and moved to the city to study at Melbourne University. Rebuilding trust in these communities will not come easily, especially when many residents feel that their concerns have been sidelined in favour of political expediency and inner-city priorities.
“Throughout his working life, Greg has undertaken a range of studies with degrees in music, social work, and public policy and management, which have supported his work in corrections, child services and disability services,” reported Labor. “Greg attributes his strong Labor values to his parents, who were both teachers. He is a life member of the ALP, having been inspired to join as a teenager when the Hawke Government was elected in 1983.”
Mallee remains the largest electorate in Victoria, and its vast geography means polling booths will be scattered across a wide area on election day.
In addition to Maryborough’s two centres at Highview College and the Freemasons Masonic Hall, Central Goldfields voters can cast their ballots at the Timor Primary School, Carisbrook Primary School, Talbot Primary School, Bealiba Primary School and Dunolly Senior Citizens Centre.
Other nearby polling locations include the Avoca RSL Memorial Hall, Moonambel Mechanics Institute, Landsborough Public Hall, Tarnagulla Public Hall, Newbridge Public Hall, Bridgewater Memorial Hall, Inglewood Primary School, the Loddon Shire Offices in Serpentine, Wedderburn Senior Citizens Centre and St Arnaud Primary School.
While Anne Webster retains the advantage of incumbency and name recognition, there is no certainty that she will enjoy the same level of dominance as she did in 2022. In a climate of growing scepticism towards the major parties – and with a broad spectrum of alternatives on offer – the outcome in Mallee could provide a telling snapshot of the national political mood.
Across the electorate, a clear message is emerging from voters who feel left behind: politics as usual is no longer enough. But as the race for Mallee heats up, it’s worth taking a moment to acknowledge the effort and commitment of all candidates putting themselves forward.
While many in the community will naturally disagree with some of their policies or ideological positions, it takes courage, conviction and an enormous amount of personal strength to stand for public office – especially at the federal level. To every candidate in this election: we wish you all the best!
Thank you to everyone for reading this far! We’d love to hear your thoughts. Which candidates are you thinking of putting first – or last – on your ballot this election?
Staying informed about voting options is also more important than ever – so feel free to give this post a like, leave a comment, and share it with friends and family. The more people who are in the loop, engaged, and part of the political conversation, the stronger our community – and our democracy – becomes.
