Federal election 2025: Hinkler candidates face-off
With the 2025 federal election weeks away and Keith Pitt announcing his retirement from politics in January, Hinkler voters already know they will be electing a new federal MP on May 3. These are the five contenders:
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With the 2025 federal election weeks away and Keith Pitt announcing his retirement from politics in January 2025, Hinkler voters already know they will be electing a new federal MP on May 3, 2025.
Election weekend will be a long weekend in Queensland, as the Labour Day public holiday is on Monday, May 5.
The federal division of Hinkler was created in 1984, and consists of parts of the Bundaberg Regional Council, North Burnett Council and Fraser Coast Regional Council, including Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Monto, Childers and Gayndah.
It is named in honour of Herbert John (Bert) Hinkler DSM AFC, 1892–1933, the Australian aviator who was the first person to fly solo from England to Australia in 1928.
Hinkler originally centred on Gladstone and its surrounding area.
On those boundaries, it was a marginal seat that traded hands between the ALP and the National Party.
After a redistribution in 2006, the very Labor Gladstone area was transferred to the Division of Flynn.
This seemingly consolidated the Nationals’ hold on Hinkler.
While National incumbent Paul Neville was nearly swept out in 2007 due in part to Queensland swinging heavily to Labor under Kevin Rudd, he survived in part due to Labor-leaning Gladstone being replaced with conservative-leaning Hervey Bay.
He was reelected with a large enough swing in 2010 to turn Hinkler into a safe seat for the merged Liberal National Party.
To date, five candidates have declared their intention to run for Hinkler on May 3:
Tyler Carman One Nation
Bundaberg business owner Tyler Carman says he is focused on addressing the rising cost of living and housing affordability.
As a mortgage broker, he says he sees first-hand the challenges Australians face in securing a home, and advocates for pausing mass immigration until infrastructure and housing supply can meet demand.
Mr Carman says he is passionate about strengthening the economy, improving health care, and reforming education.
He says he supports free university degrees for essential professions like nursing, medicine, and teaching to reduce reliance on foreign workers.
Mr Carman says he aims to fight for policies that prioritise local families, essential services, and economic opportunities.
Trish Mears Labor
Trish Mears is a dedicated community leader with experience in media, marketing, and local government.
Named Bundaberg’s 2023 Citizen of the Year, she is board chair of Partners in Care Together, president of Moore Park Beach Arts, and secretary of Bundaberg Players Incorporated.
Ms Mears says she understands the challenges locals face, from finding work to affording housing.
She says she supports Labor’s cost-of-living relief measures, including tax cuts, energy bill relief, fee-free TAFE, and cheaper healthcare, and is ready to use her experience and passion to advocate for a better future for Hinkler under an Albanese Labor government.
David Batt LNP
A long-time community advocate, David Batt has more than 27 years of board experience in community organisations, sporting clubs, and education.
The former police officer served three terms on Bundaberg Regional Council, including as deputy mayor, before being elected as the state MP in 2017, later becoming the shadow assistant spokesman for state development.
Mr Batt served as deputy chair of the Local Disaster Management Group and Recovery Coordinator for the 2013 floods, his leadership in other recoveries earning him a Paul Harris Fellow award from Sunrise Rotary.
Since 2021, he has worked as the community resilience and disaster management coordinator for the Bundaberg council.
Andrew McLean Greens
Andrew McLean believes Australia’s wealth should ensure everyone can afford the basics—housing, food, healthcare, and education.
He argues that major parties take millions in corporate donations while Australians struggle with rising costs.
The Greens, he says, refuse donations from billionaires and corporations, allowing them to fight for real change.
McLean supports making big corporations and billionaires pay their fair share of tax, which he says would raise $514 billion to fund Medicare expansions, free GP visits, rent caps and climate action.
He opposes new coal and gas projects and calls for stronger measures to tackle the climate crisis.
“If you want change, the first step is to vote for it,” he says.
Kerry Petrus Family First
Kerry Petrus is standing for Family First to, as she says, ensure that family values, faith, life, and freedom are on the ballot in Hinkler.
Ms Petrus believes the major parties have abandoned these values and wants to give voters an alternative that will not compromise.
She says she is committed to policies that strengthen families, uphold religious freedoms, and protect the most vulnerable members of society.
She encourages voters to choose Family First to ensure their values are represented in Canberra.
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