Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lain Dare, Professor, Centre for Environmental Governance, University of Canberra
In Australia’s regional heartland, something unusual is happening — and voters know it.
For decades, elections in regional seats such as Farrer have followed a familiar script: predictable outcomes, entrenched party loyalties, and little sense that individual votes could change the result. But with the retirement of Sussan Ley after 25 years in the seat this time is different, and voters and political pundits are all taking notice.
On Wednesday night we brought together eight Farrer voters in a focus group to share a snapshot of community views and insights prior to Saturday’s byelection. While no means a full representative sample of the Farrer electorate, this cross-section of voters — from Gen Z to Boomers — shared a powerful mix of frustration, pragmatism, and cautious optimism that is reshaping the political landscape. And the message is unmistakable: rural voters are no longer willing to be taken for granted.
After 25 years of being represented by Ley, participating voters felt complacency had set in and the electorate was suffering: “You’re not at the front of the queue with a comfortable majority” (Male, Gen X).
But the Farrer by-election is changing all this, creating its own political energy and a renewed sense that their votes may influence the direction of regional representation for the first time in decades: “It’s really different this time… people are talking about politics” (Male, Gen X).
At the core of this mood was a profound sense of neglect, with participant voters repeatedly saying they felt invisible to decision-makers, who predominantly sit in metropolitan centres. Policies, they say, are crafted by people with little understanding of regional life — and the consequences are felt every day: “the biggest thing I see is a lot of big decisions getting made by people that live in big cities, [and it] just doesn’t work for us” (Female, Gen X).
Surprisingly, cost of living pressures did not dominate the discussion. While the majority of participants identified cost of living as a factor influencing their voting choice, the discussions focused on the realities of living in rural and regional areas: accessing quality health services, poor workforce availability, and the comparative lack of opportunities compared to their urban counterparts.
This disconnect has bred more than dissatisfaction. It’s fuelling an appetite for change. For the first time in years, voters sense real uncertainty — and real power: “I think for the first time in at least some generations, there’s an opportunity to show the federal and the state governments that that Farrer matters, that regional areas are actually important, and that it’s not just about Lane Cove”. (Male, Gen X)
But behind this new sense of power hides some anxiety about being dismissed by politicians in Canberra. A feeling keenly felt by one participant: “Definitely, not in my lifetime of voting can I remember a time when I thought it mattered as much as it does now. And I’m a little worried by the protest vote and that the federal government, the city-centric sort of base way of thinking will say, ‘oh, well, they’re just rednecks from the country, that’s why they voted like that.’ And it’s much deeper than that.” (Male, Gen X)
This perception of dismissal is already in play given the choices of the Albanese government: “The rejection of Labor to not even run a candidate just really shows that they’re already dismissive of the electorate” (Male, Gen X).
This absence of a Labor candidate has cracked open the contest. Independents and minor parties are playing a larger role as a result, and voters are paying close attention. This is no longer a “safe seat” mindset. It’s a marketplace of ideas and for many, that’s energising: “You can see that coming through that people have had enough and they’re looking for other options. And I think that shows the strength of what’s going to occur at this by-election” (Male, Gen X).
If there was one point of consensus across the Farrer voters that participated in our focus group it is this: the Coalition is struggling. Both the Liberal Party and Nationals were described as divided, unfocused, and disconnected from regional priorities. This isn’t just dissatisfaction with policy — it’s a broader collapse of confidence in leadership and direction.
For a region long considered Coalition heartland, that’s a seismic shift with profound implications for the Liberal candidate Raissa Butkowski. While participants acknowledged her credentials, they felt she lacked traction. This is perhaps not wholly her fault, with some expressing a distaste for the “woeful” and “trainwreck” Coalition: “I have been Liberal-National voting for as long as you could ever see. And I just don’t see a future for them, to be honest. Like they’re gone. It’s a death sentence” (Male, Gen X).
Into this vacuum steps protest politics. With Labor not entering the contest and the Coalition struggling, One Nation has emerged as a significant force — but not because voters are deeply aligned with its ideology. Instead, it’s seen as a vehicle for dissatisfaction, a way to send a message to the political establishment.
Yet this support is uneven with one younger participant rejecting the party outright: “I don’t stand by anything One Nation stands for.” (Male, Gen Z). The result is a fragmented protest vote — powerful, but not unified. One that could have very real consequences at Saturday’s byelection given many political commentators are tipping One Nation to win Farrer, despite its candidate David Farley not finding much support across our focus group participants.
Among the shifting currents, one candidate stood out with members of this small voter group: Independent Michelle Milthorpe. Her focus on local issues has resonated strongly across the group participants. Crucially, her appeal reflects a broader trend: voters aren’t just rejecting parties — they’re actively searching for representatives who feel grounded in local realities: “She’s advocating for healthcare […] that’s important to me” (Female, Gen Z)
Despite everything, one of the most striking findings is how engaged these voters remain. Acknowledging the bias of participants who chose to participate in a focus group about politics, the participants were far from disengaged or apathetic. They were informed, thoughtful, and eager. They firmly believed in Australian democracy — but they want it to work better for them, and they believe this byelection could be a turning point: “It’s really different this time. I went to pre-polling and people are quite aggressive and get in your face. And I’ve even noticed around, people never really talked about politics [before], and you’ve even got a divide between husband and wife now between certain candidates and they’re lobbying each other” (Male, Gen X)
What does all this mean? Farrer is no longer predictable; this is a fluid electorate — and a highly competitive one. Farrer voters are pragmatic and fiercely local in their priorities. Party labels carry less weight. Issues, authenticity, and local relevance now matter more: “Not in my lifetime has it mattered as much as now.” (Male, Gen X)
This isn’t just another regional byelection. It’s a warning shot. Rural voters are demanding attention, accountability, and action. They’re questioning old loyalties and exploring new options. And, for the first time in a long time, they believe their vote might truly count.
– ref. ‘Fed up, fired up, and finally heard’: inside the political earthquake brewing in Farrer – https://theconversation.com/fed-up-fired-up-and-finally-heard-inside-the-political-earthquake-brewing-in-farrer-282396