Plan your vote for the Farrer by-election

Raissa Butkowski's position is "no more buybacks", arguing that the government should be getting behind infrastructure upgrades rather than buybacks. Source

While Angus Taylor MP has pushed back on any changes to negative gearing or the capital gains tax discount, other members of the Coalition are willing to give due consideration to any reform proposals. Source

The Liberals are focused on supporting a balanced energy mix, including renewables in the right place, and scrapping Labor’s 82% renewables by 2030 target. Source

While Angus Taylor says a 25% gas levy would shut down the industry, other Liberal MPs are “open-minded” to increasing taxes on gas companies. Source

The Coalition’s plan includes a $185 million to complete the current hospital upgrade and funding for planning, site acquisition and early works for a new hospital. Source

The Coalition have announced they would pursue a values-based migration scheme by making compliance with the Australian Values Statement a binding requirement for visa holders. Source

Position provided by candidate: “Water is the lifeblood of our region, and it should be treated as a shared resource for our farmers and community, not a speculative commodity to be traded, hoarded or taken away by the federal government. I will fight for:

• An end to water buybacks
• A ban on foreign ownership of Australian water
• A Federal Royal Commission into water management”

Michelle Milthorpe's water plan includes ending water buybacks that strip water from regional communities. Source

Position provided by candidate: “Our housing system isn’t working the way it should. Young people are being locked out, and that’s not good enough. I won’t support changes that unfairly punish people who’ve made decisions based on the current rules, so any reforms should be grandfathered. I’m open to sensible reforms, including looking at tax concessions like negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount, if they help make housing more affordable for first home buyers, without reducing investment in new housing. But tax changes alone won’t fix this. Public and social housing has fallen from around 7 per cent in 1991 to just 3.9 per cent in 2022, and we need to rebuild that. As a mum, I think about my own kids. They deserve a fair shot at owning a home, and that means we need to make some changes.”

Response provided by candidate: “The rollout of renewable projects in our region are important, but the way this transition is being delivered, is not working for many regional communities. Too often, projects feel imposed, with limited local input and uneven benefits. Farrer hosts a significant share of renewable projects within the REZ, yet many people feel they are carrying the burden without seeing the returns. The transition to renewables must be fair, responsible, and deliver real benefits to the communities hosting this infrastructure. It also needs to maintain energy reliability and support regional growth. I support the rollout of renewable energy because it delivers some of the cheapest electricity available and, with an abundance of sun, our region should benefit from that investment. I will fight for:

• Lower and more stable energy prices for regional communities
• Compensation and direct benefits for communities hosting wind, solar, and battery projects
• A strong and genuine regional voice in how renewable energy projects are planned and delivered
• Investment in local grid infrastructure to ensure reliability and unlock regional development“

Michelle Milthorpe supports investment in energy storage, including battery and pumped hydro, to ensure reliability and empower regional communities to benefit from renewable energy. Source

Response provided by candidate: “I strongly support Australia getting a fairer return from our gas exports. It’s outrageous that foreign companies can access Australian gas more cheaply than Australians themselves, and that we generate more revenue from beer than we do from exporting our own gas. A 25% tax on gas export revenue is about making sure Australians actually benefit from the resources we own. That revenue should be used to support lower energy costs, strengthen our economy, and invest back into regional communities.”

Michelle Milthorpe supports cost of living measures including introducing a temporary 25% levy on gas exports during the crisis, with revenue directed straight back into fuel cost relief and long-term resilience. Source

Response from the candidate: “I’ve been proud to stand with the community for a new hospital on a new site in Albury for the past two years. If elected, I will keep fighting until we have a facility that meets the needs of our growing region.“

Michelle Milthorpe supports a fully funded, single-site, greenfield hospital that meets the region's long-term health needs. Source

Response from the candidate: “In regional Australia, the real issue is making sure we have the workers we need and that people who come here are supported to settle, contribute, and become part of the community. That’s why I support a practical, place-based approach to migration, focused on local workforce needs, proper support services, and strong protections, not ideological tests about who belongs. I don’t support the idea of the government deciding who is “Australian enough” based on some vague set of values. Australia’s strength has always come from our migrant story, from people of different backgrounds building a life here and contributing to our communities. Trying to define that through legislation risks creating division and excluding people who would otherwise make a positive contribution. What concerns me is the kind of discourse we’re starting to see, it echoes a more divisive, top-down approach like we’ve seen in the United States, and that’s not the path we should go down.”

Michelle Milthorpe's immigration policy focuses on a place-based approach, allowing regional communities, businesses and local leaders to identify workforce needs and shape practical solutions. Source

Jamie Bonnefin said: "We don't support water buybacks, but we need to change the conversation. We need to start talking about when are we going to get our water back." Source

People First's tax policy includes capping negative gearing at $5,000 per person and replacing the current 50% discount on capital gains tax with an indexation of cost base method. Source

People First would abolish subsidies for renewables. Source

Response from the party: “Impose a 10% tax royalty on gas, period.”

Response from the party: “Yes. We support a new greenfield hospital.”

People First propose to prevent entry to migrants with known radical views incompatible with Australian values. Source

The Nationals have committed to stopping all water buybacks, and will continue to listen to farmers on the ground about sensible ways to support Australian farming and the continued flows of the Murray-Darling Basin system. Source

Senator Matt Canavan does not support changes to the capital gains tax discount. Source

The Nationals' energy policy includes taking steps towards zero-emission nuclear power and ramping-up domestic gas production for affordable and reliable energy, recognising renewables have a role to play. Source

Senator Matt Canavan is opposed to the proposed tax on gas exports, saying it aims to shut down the Australian gas industry. Source

The Coalition would invest $200 million to finish the Albury hospital upgrade and begin work on a new hospital in Albury-Wodonga. Source

The Coalition have announced they would pursue a values-based migration scheme by making compliance with the Australian Values Statement a binding requirement for visa holders. Source

Aimee Pearson is in favour of a new hospital on a new site. Source

Richard Hendrie is backing the Murray-Darling water buybacks but said support for regenerative farming, new industries and planning with communities was needed for the basin plan to work. Source

The Greens support phasing out negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts. Source

The Greens' energy policy includes delivering 100% publicly-owned renewable energy by 2030. Source

The Greens are advocating for a minimum 25% export tax on gas revenue. Source

The Greens support a new greenfield hospital for Albury-Wodonga. Source

Multiple Greens parliamentarians have spoken against the policy, with Senator David Shoebridge calling it "a 2026 version of the white Australia immigration policy". Source

Roger Woodward's objectives include obtaining additional funding for Albury Hospital at the existing location. Source

One Nation's position is to reintroduce the cap on buybacks. Source

Senator Pauline Hanson voted almost always against increasing housing affordability. Source

One Nation's energy policy includes abolishing the renewable energy target and the Capacity Investment Scheme. Source

Senator Pauline Hanson introduced a bill on reserving gas for domestic use, but voted against a Greens' amendment to introduce a 25% export tax. Source

David Farley said it was important for the 10 year first phase of the development to go ahead and then maybe a new hospital on a new site could be considered in stage two. Source

One Nation's immigration policy includes capping visas at 130,000 per year and refusing entry to migrants from nations known to foster extremist ideologies that are incompatible with Australian values and way of life. Source

Family First would abolish renewable subsidies. Source

Rebecca Scriven would prioritise healthcare by fighting to direct more investment in regional medical services and hospitals, including putting pressure on the NSW and Victorian State Governments to reconsider building a greensite hospital in Albury. Source

Lyle Shelton said: "Family First welcomes the Coalition’s recognition that immigration levels are too high and that Australian values must be at the centre of policy." Source

The Sustainable Australia Party does not support ending voluntary water buybacks, but calls for a Royal Commission into water management in the Murray–Darling Basin. Source

The Sustainable Australia Party's housing policy includes fewer investor tax breaks by removing the 50% capital gains tax discount and abolishing negative gearing on taxable Australian property. Source

The Sustainable Australia Party supports progress towards a predominantly renewable energy supply, including funding and subsidising research and development into renewable energy technologies. Source

Response from the party: “Our Taxation policies now include: Ensure gas exports are taxed at no less than 25% of total gas revenue.”

The Sustainable Australia Party advocates for a world-class, single-site regional hospital on a greenfield location in Albury-Wodonga. Source

Response from the party: “In terms of whether we support values tests for almost all temporary migrants not seeking citizenship, it seems very impractical and unnecessary. In short, we are not in support of broadening a ‘values test’ beyond citizenship.”The Sustainable Australia Party opposes discrimination against immigrants based on race (ethnicity) or religion. Source

Response from the candidate: “When water entitlements were separated from land title and the buybacks first came in farmers and irrigators flocked to the scheme with some enjoying substantial profits. However, because the buybacks were not limited per system, or per region, serious water deficiencies have resulted in some locations and local communities are dying out as a result. I therefore believe that water buybacks should be limited or scrapped unless socio-economic impacts can be satisfactorily mitigated.”

Gary Pappin's water policy includes capping water buybacks per district and waterway. Source

Response from the candidate: “I support reforming property tax concessions where they unfairly advantage speculative investment over first-home buyers and renters. However, reform should be staged, grandfather existing arrangements, protect small scale investors, and avoid damaging regional rental supply.”

Response from the candidate: “Currently both coal and gas and renewable energy infrastructure is incentivised and subsidised. Government support enables economies of scale for new technologies such as wind and solar. However, here has been limited benefit for local communities within the Southwest REZ with local residents not able to access the power generated and FIFO/DIDO workforces restricting local development opportunities. Local residents must reap the benefits of the renewable grid to reduce their costs of living.”

Response from the candidate: “Australia is vulnerable to fuel shortages. There is a major supply risk with liquid gas. A large export tax would undermine government revenue, raise the risk of domestic gas shortages and make the industry uninvestible.”

Response from the candidate: “The Albury hospital is not fit for purpose. The redevelopment has been poorly planned and poorly costed. I advocate for a new hospital that will cater for future regional growth. I also advocate for increased funding to upgrade both the Griffith and Deniliquin hospitals to meet current and future demands. I wish to ensure that fair and equitable services are provided across the entire region.”

Gary Pappin said a new Albury hospital on a new site is the only way to improve health outcomes across Farrer. Source

Response from the candidate: “There needs to be an immigration policy that is in the interests of Australians and that puts Australian values at the centre of that policy. For genuine refugees the assessment and review of protection claims must be independent and free from any political interference. I support the settlement of genuine refugees to rural locations where they can contribute effectively to the community.” Source

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers' action plan includes placing water for agriculture as the first priority over all others and immediately reviewing and amending the Murray Darling Basin Plan through active consultation and recognition of farming enterprises and rights. Source

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers oppose the continual subsidisation of renewable energy. Source