THERE is an appetite for change in the National Party stronghold of the Mallee, according to independent federal election candidate Sophie Baldwin.
The 47-year-old Cohuna woman, who previously worked as a dairy farmer and rural journalist, launched her campaign last Friday in Mildura supported by fellow independent Mildura state MP Ali Cupper.
“Yes, it’s been a Nationals seat for a very long time but the conversations I’ve been having show there’s a real narrative around political change,” Ms Baldwin said.
“As an independent, I can truly represent the Mallee, not a party.
“People are sick of party politics.”
Ms Baldwin, who has entered the water advocacy space in the past 20 months is now the chief executive of lobby group Southern Riverina Irrigators.
She was in Swan Hill over the weekend at the farmers’ market to chat with locals about the issues that matter to them.
“I’m also hoping to organise some events in Cohuna, my hometown, soon,” she said.
“Hopefully I can head to the footy, and I’ll be at the Cohuna Bridge to Bridge (March 6), too.
“I’ve had such overwhelming support from the local community and it has been quite humbling to see the people jumping on to support.”
Ms Baldwin plans to set up an office in the Cohuna pub, as well as establishing hubs around the Mallee so locals can come in and share what they’re thinking.
She planned to attend the Wimmera Field Days to get out into the community but the event has been cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.
Ms Baldwin, like fellow independent candidate Horsham-based Claudia Haenel, will face Nationals incumbent Dr Anne Webster in the fight to represent the Mallee.
A federal election date has not been set, but it must be held by the end of May.
“Rural communities aren’t listened to, and my work in water advocacy made that obvious,” she said.
“It was one of the factors that made me stand up.
“While it is intimidating, sometimes you have to be the change you want to see.”
The mother of two said the Mallee electorate made a huge contribution to the economy, but that better infrastructure was needed to support that.
Issues such as childcare shortages were priorities she laid out, explaining that rural towns are missing out on people moving to the region or returning to the workforce because there isn’t the day care required.
“Those building blocks are essential, as are medical facilities, education, access to female doctors, telecommunications, internet and phone access, aged care and controlling rate increases,” she said.
“There are lots of issues and, yes, some of those are state but surely we can work together (state and federal) and finally get some solutions.”
Having worked as an advocate for irrigators, Ms Baldwin also plans to campaign strongly on water.
“We need to look at why in the driest continent on Earth we continue to prioritise and plant permanent plantings so far down the system,” she said.
“I am not talking about horticulture that has supported generations of citrus, avocados, dried fruit and grapes, but rather the unregulated and uncontrolled development of thousands of hectares of permanent corporate plantings with no thought given to increased conveyance and how the volumes of water will be delivered once maturity is reached.”
Ms Baldwin has the backing of Mildura state MP Ali Cupper and both say they will collaborate on issues affecting the region.
Ms Baldwin said that she was not aligned to any side of politics, but that she had a farming background and strong rural values.
She has already begun collaborating with Ms Cupper by backing the Mildura MP’s “Rategate” campaign, aimed at achieving a more equitable system for the setting of municipal rates in regional Victoria.
The Nationals, previously known as the Country Party, have held Mallee for 73 years, including 44 years in coalition government with the Liberal Party.
