Backers of independent Farrer candidate Michelle Milthorpe are celebrating after receiving support from Alasdair MacLeod, a prominent pro-climate farmer and the son-in-law of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
MacLeod, who leads the regenerative farming business Macdoch Australia, has donated to the Regional Voices Fund to support Milthorpe in the May 9 by-election.
Climate farmer backs independent in Farrer
Mr. MacLeod said he chose to support Ms. Milthorpe’s campaign because he believed she was “genuinely connected to her region and focused on delivering practical outcomes.”
“Regional Australians are facing increasing pressures, from cost of living to climate impacts on farming and infrastructure,” Mr. MacLeod said in a statement.
Mr. MacLeod said his community was “angry and frustrated”, adding they had a right to be. He stated, “Too many people feel ignored or left behind by the current system.”
Regional Voices Fund chair Lorraine Gordon welcomed Mr. MacLeod’s support, noting his advocacy for regenerative agriculture and sustainable regional economies.
Ms. Milthorpe said the regions were “fed up” with water prices tripling in the past year and fuel doubling in the last month, calling it “do or die” for her community. “It’s time to fight back,” she said. “I thank Alasdair and the hundreds of others who have chipped in to my campaign.”
Cost of living, water and health top voters’ concerns
Ms. Milthorpe’s competitors view her association with groups like the regional fund, which gave her $60,000 in February, and Climate 200 as evidence of alignment with the “teal” movement.
The Liberal candidate for the seat, Raissa Butkowski, said grocery, housing, energy and fuel prices were major concerns for voters. She also highlighted the importance of water security, improving local health and infrastructure, and supporting small businesses and farmers.
Nationals candidate Brad Robertson also identified water, health and cost of living as key issues in Farrer, emphasizing the importance of specialist services at the Albury Hospital.
One Nation candidate says ‘minority’ of farmers focused on climate action
The Farrer by-election is the first federal test for a resurgent One Nation, with candidate David Farley aiming to translate high polling results into a lower house seat. He said water, the Murray Darling Basin Plan, fuel security, affordability, health and cost of living were the top concerns among voters.
Mr. Farley said his objective was to win the seat and then utilize One Nation’s parliamentary team to address those priorities. He noted that while a minority of farmers are engaged in climate action, a majority focus on sustainable operations and meeting market demands.
Family First refuses to preference One Nation
Last week, Family First announced it would not preference One Nation in the Farrer by-election due to “serious concerns” about Mr. Farley’s “conduct and record.” National director Lyle Shelton cited a report about Mr. Farley reposting Instagram reels by OnlyFans creators, which Mr. Farley defended as “inadvertent” shares. Mr. Shelton said his party would not be preferencing Mr. Farley as they believed in “respecting women and girls.”
Public polling suggests the Farrer by-election will be a close race between Ms. Milthorpe, One Nation candidate David Farley and the Liberals’ Raissa Butkowski, who is seeking to replace retired former opposition leader Sussan Ley. The result will be highly dependent on unpredictable preference flows, with no formal deals between the main contenders announced yet.
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