Find out which Groom candidates will place where on the federal election ballot on May 3
The ballot positions have been cast ahead of the federal election with a female Groom candidate taking out the top spot. See who placed where.
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Groom candidates and their loved ones gathered for the formal announcement of their candidacy and to find out which spot they’ll place on the 2025 election ballot.
Eight candidates were officially announced in the battle for the seat of Groom.
See which order they’ll appear on the ballot below.
1. SUZIE HOLT (INDEPENDENT)
Highly-touted independent Suzie Holt says Groom needs vital infrastructure around healthcare, education and transport, as the noted community organiser aims to end the LNP’s dominance in the previously-safe conservative seat.
See her full profile here.
2. REBECCA KONZ (ONE NATION)
New One Nation member Rebecca Konz is campaigning for reducing renewable energy, strengthening family support through income splitting, and improving health outcomes.
Ms Konz wants to slow down the push for renewable energy by getting Australia to pull out of the Paris agreement and cut back on what she refers to as ‘government waste’.
See her full profile here.
3. ALEXANDRA TODD (FAMILY FIRST)
The Family First candidate for the seat of Groom is Alexandra Todd, who was the party’s campaign director during the Queensland state election campaign in 2024.
During the state campaign, Ms Todd said she wanted to get back into the political sphere to ensure the “building blocks of society” weren’t compromised on because noisy minorities that were pushing Australia’s culture too far to the “left”.
See her full profile here.
4. ALYCE NELLIGAN (GREENS)
Disability advocate and Greens candidate Alyce Nelligan is focusing her campaign on cost of living, housing, and healthcare and has been heavily involved with the party for almost a decade.
“To me helping the community is the most important thing and it’s been my motivation to get involved in politics and make life fairer and more equitable for everyone” Ms Nelligan said.
See her full profile here.
5. GARTH HAMILTON (LNP)
Former mining engineer Garth Hamilton has placed cost of living, housing affordability, crime reduction and a nuclear energy future as key components of his re-election campaign.
After winning a by-election in 2020 following the retirement of predecessor John McVeigh, Mr Hamilton has been in federal parliament for five years and is now the deputy chair of the House of Representatives standing committee for economics.
See his full profile here.
6. KIRSTIE SMOLENSKI (INDEPENDENT)
Running as an independent for the seat of Groom is former registered nurse and business manager Kirstie Smolenski.
Ms Smolenski said she was spurred to run as a candidate in the 2025 election to ensure vital health facilities and transport were a priority for the Toowoomba region, after polling just behind fellow independent Suzie Holt in 2022.
See her full profile here.
7. JAMIE KERR (TRUMPET OF PATRIOTS)
Newly announced candidate for Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots is vying for the seat of Groom and is yet to announce what they plan to bring to the table.
8. RICHARD EDWARDS (LABOR)
Toowoomba mental health practitioner Richard Edwards is running for Groom in the 2025 federal election.
The longstanding Darling Downs resident said he was passionate about ensuring all members of the community continued to have access to affordable health care.
“I’m excited to be Labor’s new candidate in Groom and to continue the Albanese Labor Government’s fight to strengthen Medicare and keep building Australia’s future,” he said.
See his full profile here.
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Originally published as Find out which Groom candidates will place where on the federal election ballot on May 3
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