Independent member for McPherson, Erchana Murray-Bartlett launches campaign

An independent for the Gold Coast electorate of McPherson has officially launched her campaign ahead of the 2025 federal election. Read her promises:

The Robina Events Centre was splashed with yellow on Saturday, as Independent McPherson candidate, Erchana Murray-Bartlett launched her campaign for the 2025 federal election.

Ms Murray-Bartlett is hoping to add MP to her ample credentials after the election, which is expected to be called in the next few weeks. She was announced as the candidate in November 2024.

The Burleigh Heads local said the electorate of McPherson at the southern Gold Coast had long been overlooked in the federal arena due to its status as a safe-seat, a perception she hopes to change.

“When a party assumes it has our vote, our needs fall by the wayside,” Ms Murray-Bartlett said.

“We need to put the Gold Coast first.”

Her promise to voters was that she would be directly answerable to residents in McPherson, not obscured by party rhetoric.

“I want to be our community champion in Canberra, and I’ll vote for what is best for the Gold Coast, free from party lines,” she said at her launch on Saturday.

“I will fight for legislation and funding that supports our region.

“As the sixth-largest city and the fastest-growing economy in Australia, the Gold Coast is projected to surpass one million residents in the next 15 years.

“Yet, despite our rapid growth and economic contributions, we remain overlooked.”

Independent candidate for McPherson, Erchana Murray-Bartlett launched her campaign on Saturday, February 15, 2025. Picture: Supplied

Ms Murray-Bartlett said she is no stranger to going the distance for what she believes in.

“In 2023, I ran 150 marathons from Cape York all the way to Melbourne for Australian biodiversity,” she said.

“I’ve achieved something that has literally never been achieved before and I did it for the future of our planet, and I’m going to put that same focus and determination into ensuring that I fight for what is best for the Gold Coast.

“One of those things is the natural beauty of the hinterland and the world-class beaches, and I’ll fight to protect them.”

She also said while a lot of Australian MPs own more than one home, she, like so many Australians, is a renter.

“I cannot afford to buy,” she said.

“I’m of the generation that left university with an $80,000 HECS debt, then had to pay that off and save at the same time.

“It’s hard to be able to say I’m out of touch because I’m also one of those people trying to break into the first home-buyers market.”

She said in her community consultation so far, she had spoken with many families and businesses straining under cost of living pressures.

“We’re being priced out of paradise.”

During the campaign launch, she sat down with federal senator David Pocock, who has strong family ties to the Gold Coast.

Mr Pocock spoke to why having people who are not career politicians in power matters.

“People who don’t have a political background, who don’t have to toe a party line, get in there and actually represent their community,” Mr Pocock said.

Ms Murray-Bartlett is yet to announce her policy platforms, but has broadly said she will focus on cost of living measures, housing affordability, honesty and integrity in government, helping small businesses, habitat and environment, and health.

Originally published as Independent member for McPherson, Erchana Murray-Bartlett launches campaign