CURRENT and former members of Albury Council, a recent school leaver and a teacher who was dismissed for her stance on vaccination are among seven candidates vying to unseat Sussan Ley’s 21-year grip on the seat of Farrer.
Ms Ley, who first won Farrer in 2001, has received an average 56.50 per cent of the primary vote across six elections. The Liberal MP has not failed to record a majority of votes in any primary voting round but had a 7.16 per cent swing against her at the 2019 election.
Farrer, which stretches west from Wentworth along the Murray River to the Greater Hume and Albury in the east, and north to include Leeton and Griffith, is the second-largest federal electorate in NSW at 126,590sq m.
Long-serving Albury councillor David Cameron is standing for the Labor Party in the federal election after twice running as a state candidate in Albury. The former soldier, who served for several years, has sat on the council since 1995.
Former mayor of Albury Amanda Duncan-Strelec, who spent 16 years on Albury Council, is contesting the seat as an independent. Ms Duncan-Strelec last ran in a federal election in Farrer in 1998, when she picked up 3.23 per cent of the vote.
The youngest candidate is 18-year-old Eli Davern, who is running for the Greens. Mr Davern is a former Youth Mayor of Albury and 2022 Young Citizen of the year.
The United Australia Party candidate Julie Ramos is a Leeton resident and former teacher. Ms Ramos was dismissed from her teaching position after vaccine mandates came into effect last November. She took NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard to court, but the case was dismissed.
Ian Christopher Roworth is standing as the Liberal Democrats candidate. The 53-year-old grazier lives north of Dubbo, where he breeds merino sheep and beef cattle.
One Nation candidate Richard Francis is a secondary school teacher in maths, computing and legal studies and has worked for IT companies in mining, agriculture and telecommunications.
The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party candidate is Paul Britton.
Ms Ley is a former air traffic controller and stock-mustering pilot who held a senior position with the Australian Taxation Office before becoming Member for Farrer. Ley has been Health Minister but resigned from Cabinet after a travel expenses row. She is now Minster for Environment.
