Independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe is no stranger to the world of elections, having contested the seat of Farrer during the 2025 Federal election.
Born and raised in Cootamundra and now living in Jindera with her family, Farrer has been home her whole life.
Her connection to the electorate is rooted in her career as a teacher, her advocacy for the local hospital and her time spent in towns across the electorate such as Deniliquin and Griffith.
However, her primary motivation for entering public office stems from a decade-long battle to protect child victims.
Driven by her own daughters' experiences with sexual abuse, she launched the ‘Justice Shouldn’t Hurt’ campaign.
The campaign successfully secured a $64 million NSW Government investment, ensuring regional children finally have access to the same court support services as those in Sydney.
Mrs Milthorpe said she was willing to fight with the same determination for Farrer.
“That fight taught me something important. When governments stop listening, people get hurt. Right now, many people across Farrer feel exactly the same way,” she said.
“Farmers are under pressure. Regional services are stretched. Communities feel ignored.
“I’ve taken on powerful systems before and won. Now I’m ready to fight for Farrer.”
She believes that the biggest issue facing the electorate right now is water.
With the price of water tripling in the past year and farming communities struggling to survive, she is calling for a Federal Royal Commission into water, a ban on foreign ownership of water and an end to water buybacks.
Aside from water, she is also focused on critical gaps in healthcare, childcare and mobile blackspots.
During the Federal Election, her support was concentrated in Albury and the surrounding areas.
This time around, Mrs Milthorpe said she would be spending most of her time on the road.
“In this campaign, I am spending the vast majority of my time outside of Albury,” she said.
“My approach is grassroots and community-led. I am listening first, understanding local priorities and ensuring those perspectives shape the policies I advocate for.”
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