Canberra votes: Meet the candidates for 2022 federal election

We speak to the candidates vying for your vote in the federal seat of Canberra. Find out more to see where they stand.

The federal election campaign is officially afoot with candidates vying to be elected in the federal division of Canberra.

The division covers the central area of ACT including North Canberra, South Canberra, Majura and some areas of Belconnen, Molonglo Valley, Weston Creek and Woden Valley.

It is considered a very safe Labor seat, with the party holding a whopping margin of 17.1 per cent in the 2019 election.

The incumbent MP Alicia Payne has represented the seat since the 2019 election, taking over from retiring Labor MP Gai Brodtmann.

Ms Brodtmann held the seat of Canberra from 2010 to 2019.

We spoke to the Labor, Liberal and Greens candidates for Canberra to see where they stand on the issues that matter to you.

Labor: Alicia Payne

Supplied Editorial Alicia Payne is the Labor MP for Canberra. Picture: Facebook

Labor MP for Canberra Alicia Payne says her time so far as member has been “the greatest honour of my life”.

“I’ve been there for my community and listened to them through what has been a difficult three years, starting with the bushfires and of course the pandemic,” she said.

“(I have been) advocating on the issues that matter to Canberrans in parliament, like climate change, social justice and integrity in politics has been a privilege and I hope to continue this work.”

Reflecting on her time in parliament Ms Payne says she has been “a strong voice in parliament and our Labor Party caucus on the issues that matter to Canberrans, such as climate change, social justice and standing up for our nation’s capital.

“I have been particularly proud to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities as a member of the Parliamentary Committee on the NDIS,” she said.

“I’m also proud of each time my office and I have helped a constituent get a better outcome with the NDIS, Centrelink, immigration system, Medicare or Veterans’ Affairs.

“This is some of the unseen and most important work MPs do.”

In terms of the issues facing her electorate, Ms Payne says the top three issues for her are “climate change, integrity in government, and cost of living including housing”.

“I’m proud to say Labor has strong policies to address those concerns, and many others, if we win government,” she said.

When asked why people should re-elect her Ms Payne vowed she and her labour colleagues would step up to the challenges over the next federal term.

“Australia has been through a wasted decade with the Coalition in government,” she said.

“Australians and Canberrans deserve a government and local member who doesn’t go missing when the going gets tough.”

“No one will work harder than me to stand up for our community.”

Liberal: Slade Minson

Slade Minson is the Liberal candidate for the seat of Canberra in the 2022 Federal Election. Picture: Facebook

Liberal candidate for Canberra Slade Minson describes himself as a “pretty ordinary bloke.”

“I spend my weekends playing guitar (think 70s rock), kicking a ball in the park with my daughter and hosting barbecues at my place in Hughes — affectionately called Hotel Hughes because there’s always something happening,” he said.

“I’ve spent the last 30 years building a diverse career in property and development, which really firmed up my interest in housing issues.

“I have a unique understanding of the policy settings that impact housing affordability here in Canberra – and I will use that experience and expertise in my bid to be the Member for Canberra.

“Mr Minson says he is running for office because he believes Canberrans “deserve greater representation in the federal parliament”.

“Canberrans deserve a voice in the House of Representatives that differs from the three safe Labor members,” he said.

When asked what he thinks were the most pressing issues facing the electorate Mr Minson said his top concerns were housing affordability “closely followed by issues like mental health, family violence and drugs”.

When asked why people should vote for him Mr Minson said if elected he wants to be a “strong voice for Canberra, a voice that doesn’t take the seat for granted.”

“I want to fight for Canberrans,” he said.

“I want to fight for more Canberrans to get into family homes and to get the healthcare they deserve.

“I want Canberrans to have another voice in the experienced Liberal-National Government that is leading us out of the pandemic, faster and stronger than any other developed nation.

“A government that is keeping our borders secure and strengthening our defence force in the incredibly complex national security environment we are in.

“I want Canberrans to be represented, to have someone who fights for them, and not be taken for granted.”

Greens: Tim Hollo

Tim Hollo is the Greens Candidate for Canberra. Picture: Facebook

Greens candidate for Canberra Tim Hollo says he’s spent 20 years of his adult life working to “tackle the climate crisis, protect our precious environment and build supportive, cohesive communities”.

“I’ve been an advocate and activist, I’ve worked in policy and research, I’ve written songs and articles, I’ve planted trees and prepared meals for people in need and lots more,” he said.

“One of the things I’m most proud of is starting Canberra’s flourishing “Buy Nothing Group” community, which now involves one in 10 Canberrans in sharing and gifting things around our city

“I also helped negotiate the establishment of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and was on the parent committee of my kids’ childcare.”

Mr Hollo say he is running for office because he wants to see his community change for the better.

“I believe that change for the better mostly starts in the community, but we also need to change our politics, because our corrupt political system is standing in the way of doing what needs to be done,” he said.

“Whether it‘s climate action or housing affordability, mental healthcare or school funding, we need politicians who will do what the community wants instead of what their donors, factional bosses, and wealthy mates tell them to do.”

When asked about what election issues were most pressing to him Mr Hollo citied “the climate crisis, the dodgy state of politics and housing affordability”.

“The Greens have excellent policies on all three,” he said.

“We will move to phase out coal and gas this decade, importantly with a multi-billion dollar promise to support workers through the transition, with a job-for-job guarantee, paying half their salary for a decade in a clean industry.

“We will ban corporate donations and cap all donations to political parties and candidates at no more than $1000 a year.

“We‘ll introduce an anti-corruption commission with teeth and we’ll make sure that citizens can have a real say in decisions that get made in parliament.

“We’ll make housing about putting roofs over people’s heads instead of an investment for the wealthy at the expense of everyone else, by getting rid of the negative gearing and capital gains tax exemptions, and funding the building of a million social and affordable homes.’’

When asked why people should vote for him he said serious change was needed to steer politics towards supporting people and protecting the planet.

“The only way we'll get that is by electing representatives who don’t take dirty donations and who will actually listen to the community, sit down with you and talk things over, and vote for the community’s values in the parliament,” he said.

“In Canberra, I’m the only candidate who fits that bill.”

United Australia Party: Catherine Smith.

United Australia Party Candidate for Canberra Catherine Smith.

Prior to becoming the United Australia Party’s candidate for Canberra Catherine Smith earned a reuptation as a prominent businesswoman as the CEO and founder of Wholistic Financial Solutions.

“We are a local Canberra business established for over 20 years,” she said.

“ I won the Telstra Women in Business Award for small business in Canberra in 2019. Our firm has a large number of small business clients, and we have seen the dreadful impact the Government rules have had on business over the last few years.”

She said she is running for office with the United Australia Party because she want to be a part of a “team that stands for the basic human right of Freedom”.

“Freedom to choose your own medical procedures, freedom to work, freedom to run your own business, freedom to cross borders to see loved ones,” Ms Smith said.

She said she was particularly concerned about Australia’s economy.

“ Australia is in serious financial trouble… as an accountant, mortgage broker and business woman I can see it very clearly,” she said.

“We are now over $1 trillion dollars in debt and the major parties have no plans at all to pay down that debt; United Australia Party has a plan.

“ Interest rates are also about to start rising and economic modeling has shown that up to 80 per cent of Australians will be in mortgage distress.

“Owning your own home is the Australian dream and Australians should be able to be free to do so. UAP has a plan to keep interest rates lower than 3 per cent.”

Ms Smith said voters should consider voting for her because “the United Australia Party is the only party with a plan to address the two crucial economic issues; the Trillion dollar debt and rising interest rates.”

“A vote for the existing parties is a vote to sink Australia‘s economy and see Australians lose their homes,” she said.

“It’s time for change. We no longer need to swing between the major two parties. UAP is a viable third choice.”

Independent: Tim Bohm.

Tim Bohm has previously run in the last three ACT elections and the last three federal elections, both as an independent and as a member of smaller parties, including bullet train for Australia and the Canberra Progressives. 

Mr Bohm says on his website he is a born and bred Canberran and says the Nation’s Capital could be and should be the best city in the world”. 

“But for too long, we have blindly trusted the major political parties to do the right thing, and they haven’t. 

“I want Canberra to be a city that values, embraces and promotes ideas, creativity and education - a  city not scared to push the boundaries to nurture communities that are responsible, resourceful and resilient.” 

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation: James Miles.

No information has been provided about James Miles.