There’ll be no Voices for Canberra candidate in Canberra. Photo: Amy Jowers Blain Facebook.
Not-for-profit political group Voices for Canberra has decided not to run a candidate in the seat of Canberra at the upcoming federal election.
The ‘Voices For’ movement started in the rural Victorian seat of Indi, when a group of loosely connected community members got together and helped independent Cathy McGowan oust Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella at the 2013 election.
Since then, similar movements have spawned all over Australia. Initially targeting Coalition seats, they now have Labor seats in their sights, with the Canberra group launching 11 months ago.
In October 2024, it put out expressions of interest for a candidate who could oppose incumbent Labor MP Alicia Payne at an election expected to be held in the first half of 2025.
Co-founder Dr Arnagretta Hunter told Region this search was not successful.
“We’ve got this informal election campaign that’s already underway; we believe the process is as an important as any results in terms of the candidate selection and we’re not in a position to do that justice at this point in time,” she said.
“We’ve been working with the community for just shy of 12 months; there’s a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for an independent candidate and for a way of doing politics differently. We got lots of support but finding the right candidate has been challenging.”
There was media speculation that Dr Hunter herself would throw her hat in the ring.
“I was never planning to be a candidate,” she said.
“People have asked me why I’m not running, but I haven’t been in a position to do that as I love my work as a cardiologist; to give that up would be immense.
“These themes are not just me … there are people who would be amazing political representatives for this community that feel that there is obligation for the work they’re already doing; they don’t feel they’re in a position to make that transition into politics.”
Environment health officer Claire Miles has already announced she’ll be standing as an independent for the Canberra seat, though she is not aligned with the Voices For movement.
“I respect the decision made by Voices for Canberra and value the important role they play in fostering political engagement and discourse,” she said.
“Over the past few months, I’ve focused on connecting with as many Canberrans as possible, seeking their support to run as a community-backed independent. The overwhelming encouragement I’ve received has been deeply inspiring and demonstrates how engaged and passionate our electorate is.”
Voices for Bean, a movement organised in the neighbouring seat that covers the south side of Canberra, has endorsed local midwife Jessie Price to run against incumbent Labor MP David Smith.
“We congratulate Jessie Price for her community-based endorsement in the seat of Bean and wish her all the very best in the federal election this year. We also note that Claire Miles has already announced that she would be standing as an independent candidate for the electorate of Canberra. We wish her well,” Dr Hunter said.
The cardiologist said Voices for Canberra’s decision to not to run a candidate wouldn’t spell the end of their moment, which she said had between 50 and 100 active members.
“The community-independent movement is growing across Australia and Voices for Canberra continues – without endorsing a candidate for election this year. We look forward to working with our community holding whoever is elected this year in Canberra to account,” she said.
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