The Liberal Party has finalised its candidate selection for the upcoming Farrer by-election in southern New South Wales, following the vacancy left by former party leader Sussan Ley. Ley relinquished the seat last month after being ousted as Liberal leader and replaced by Angus Taylor, creating a critical electoral contest in the regional electorate.
Preselection Vote Details
On Sunday afternoon, Liberal members convened at the Albury Entertainment Centre to vote on their candidate for the May 9 by-election. According to reports from The Australian, the preselection process resulted in Albury councillor Raissa Butkowski securing the nomination with 36 votes, defeating Lachlan McIntyre, a former staffer of Sussan Ley, who received 27 votes.
Candidate Background and Support
Raissa Butkowski is a senior lawyer at the Hume Riverina Community Legal Service and was first elected to Albury Council in 2024. She has reportedly garnered significant backing from both the conservative and centre-right factions within the Liberal Party, which bolstered her candidacy. In response to her selection, Butkowski expressed humility, stating, 'I am humbled to be preselected, but know there's a lot of hard work ahead.'
Other Parties and Candidates
The Liberals were the last major political party to choose a candidate for the Farrer by-election. Earlier this month, One Nation selected David Farley, the former chief executive of the Australian Agricultural Company, as their contender. The Nationals submitted their candidate earlier this week, former military commander Brad Robertson. Additionally, independent candidate Michelle Millthorpe, who captured 20 per cent of first preference votes in last year's federal election, will also compete for the seat.
Notable Absences and Context
It is understood that Sussan Ley was not involved in the preselection process for her former seat, marking a clear departure from her previous influence in the electorate. Furthermore, the Labor Party has decided not to contest the regional seat, narrowing the field primarily to conservative and independent candidates. This by-election represents a significant test for the Liberal Party as they seek to retain Farrer amidst internal changes and broader political shifts.
