Independent Candidate Michelle Milthorpe Carves Fresh Path in Farrer Byelection Battle
Michelle Milthorpe, a teacher and advocate for child sexual assault survivors from Jindera, has embarked on a political journey fueled by dissatisfaction with major parties. "I'm here because I was feeling dissatisfied with the major parties. They don't understand our regional context," Milthorpe declares as she campaigns to represent the seat of Farrer in Canberra.
From Personal Tragedy to Political Catalyst
Milthorpe's introduction to politics came after devastating family events in 2013 when her daughters, then eight and five, disclosed sexual assault by a family friend. The grueling experience with the justice system, which required her young daughters to repeatedly recount their trauma, propelled her into advocacy work. She joined the Justice Shouldn't Hurt campaign and waived her family's right to anonymity, eventually contributing to permanent changes in NSW law allowing child survivors to pre-record testimonies and access witness intermediaries.
"It made me look at, what else do we miss out on regionally because people aren't listening, people aren't doing their job, or it doesn't suit the party agenda," Milthorpe explains. "You don't have to scream and shout to be heard. You just need to have examples and solutions and address a need, and you can get things done."
A Different Political Landscape
Milthorpe first entered politics in February 2024, searching "how to become an independent" on her phone while sitting in her car. With support from federal independent MP Helen Haines and the grassroots Voices of Farrer movement, she reduced longtime Liberal member Sussan Ley's lead to just 6.2% in last May's federal election. Ley had held the seat for nearly 23 years as deputy opposition leader.
Now, twelve months later, the political battlefield has transformed dramatically. Pauline Hanson's One Nation party hopes to expand its lower house presence through candidate David Farley, a 69-year-old local agribusiness consultant. Farley recently told supporters that Australia's immigration settings had become "loose and wild" and needed reduction.
"It's a completely different ballgame this time," Milthorpe acknowledges, though she's tipped to potentially eclipse the Coalition's two candidates in the May 9 contest despite limited seat-specific polling.
Rejecting the "Teal" Label
Milthorpe's campaign has received backing from Climate 200, the Simon Holmes à Court-founded funding vehicle known for supporting inner-city teal independents who ousted Liberal MPs in 2022. However, Milthorpe firmly rejects the "bush teal" label her opponents attempt to attach to her candidacy.
"I do find it a bit laughable," she says. "It's a weak and lazy criticism. My context is very different, and I would argue that those women [inner city teals], who do a great job representing their communities, have very little understanding of what's going on out here for us. Because no one's telling them."
She emphasizes that beyond gender and community commitment, she shares little with urban teal independents. "It's nothing personal. It's just that the reality is that we've got nothing in common, except that we're women who want to do well for our communities."
Policy Positions Rooted in Regional Reality
Milthorpe's political philosophy centers on Farrer's specific needs rather than traditional left-right divides. "So, it's not left, right – it's whatever suits us," she explains. "My [political] leaning needs to be Farrer."
On energy policy, while she supports small renewable projects in the electorate, Milthorpe believes grid stability requires coal and gas backup. She advocates for fairer remuneration for regional communities hosting renewable energy infrastructure and questions the practicality of electric vehicles and expensive battery solutions for remote areas.
"It's the lack of foresight in some of the infrastructure that's required … regional communities are shouldering the burden of [renewable energy projects] and are not being remunerated or consulted in a way that is appropriate," she argues.
Immigration as Regional Solution
Contrasting sharply with One Nation's position, Milthorpe views immigration as essential for addressing regional workforce shortages rather than a problem. "We need to have place-based immigration in our electorate, our businesses can't run without migrants," she states.
Albury, Farrer's largest town with population growth exceeding the regional NSW average, faces significant shortages in health and aged care staffing. Milthorpe advocates for immigration policies tailored to specific regional needs rather than blanket federal targets.
Preference Politics and Electoral Strategy
The election outcome may hinge on Coalition preference decisions. If the Nationals and Liberals preference One Nation above Milthorpe on their how-to-vote cards, it could deliver the seat to Hanson's party.
"I find it fascinating that the Liberal party would choose to preference a party that seemingly wants to take them out," Milthorpe observes. "If that's what they think they need to do, they've got to think about what that means for their future."
She encourages voters to think independently: "I do challenge people to move away from, you know, what you've been told to vote for. Think for yourselves. If you can't vote for me [as] one, vote for me [as] two and number every box."
With thousands of donations from across the electorate and a campaign focused on regional representation, Milthorpe positions herself as the authentic voice for Farrer's unique challenges. "My job is to take the voices of Farrer to parliament and make sure that people understand what we need out here," she concludes, embodying the grassroots dissatisfaction driving her candidacy.
