NSW by-elections: Meet the 13 candidates vying for Bega, Monaro
All eyes are on south NSW as voters prepare to go to the polls to elect new representatives in two major electorates, while leaders in Canberra gear up for a contentious fight for federal parliament later this year.
The South Coast News
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More 98,000 eligible voters will cast their ballot on Saturday in the south NSW seats of Bega and Monaro, as the region braces with the fallout of the Covid pandemic and an unprecedented housing crisis.
The simultaneous by-elections were triggered by the shock resignation late last year of former-Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Bega MP Andrew Constance.
The exit of two political heavyweights on the same day has helped open the field to candidates ranging from novice politicians to long-time activists, each offer a competing vision for the region.
Seven candidates are in contention for the seat of Bega, including former-obstetrician-gynaecologist Michael Holland representing the Labor Party and the Liberal party’s Fiona Kotvojos, who has been endorsed by Mr Constance.
In Monaro, the wife of former Queanbeyan mayor and journalist Nichole Overrall will take on Labor’s Bryce Wilson on the ballot sheet as a representative of The Nationals party, with seven candidates in total standing for the seat.
Meet all 13 candidates in Saturday’s be-elections below.
Bega
Michael Holland – Labor
Many Eurobodalla residents might be familiar with Labor candidate for Bega Michael Holland after his decades spent working as an OBGYN.
But, after realising the need for political change to positively effect health outcomes, the former doctor is now vying for the coveted NSW seat.
Mr Holland resigned from his role late last year to pursue his political career after years spent advocating for health investment in the region.
“I said: if I can‘t achieve the goals I’m trying to achieve for my community clinically, having lived and worked here for 19 years, I’m going to try to represent them politically,” he said.
“Medicine isn‘t separate from what you see as a social determinants of health, which includes peri-natal prenatal care, early parenting, education, housing, food security, income, climate security and environmental safety.
“I’ve taken the stand to try and represent people on more than just a medicine.”
Mr Holland said the housing shortage in the Bega region presented a challenge to significant investments made by the State Government into medical infrastructure in the area, including the new Moruya Hospital.
“I‘ve been doing the rounds a lot, meeting will all sorts of people, and housing shortages and security comes up a lot,” he said.
“The worst manifestation of the housing shortage insecurity is homelessness, and if you’ve got to fix the most serious problem first.”
In a Facebook post dated February 4, Mr Holland lambasted the NSW Government for having so-far failed to purchase land slated for the new $250 million hospital.
“Can we trust the NSW Liberal Government to build this hospital with level 4 services when they haven’t been upfront with the community from the start,” he said.
Fiona Kotvojos – Liberal
Having been born and raised in the Bega shire, Liberal candidate Fiona Kotvojos said she has the experience needed to take the reigns from Andrew Constance, and to continue to lead infrastructure projects pioneered by the former state Transport Minister.
Ms Kotvojos started her career in high school education and has earned a doctorate in education, a masters degrees in business.
Her resume as a scientist includes award-winning research in marine science, and was a team member on a project that developed an award-winning environmental impact statement.
Before returning home to run her farm, Ms Kotvojos said she worked on disaster recovery and development projects overseas, and has since run three businesses across the Bega and Eurobodalla Shires, including founding the Gourmet Coast Trail.
Her passions now lie in ensuring young people have the opportunity to work and study locally.
“When I finished high school, I had to leave the area for study and work,” she said.
“When satellite internet arrived, I returned to my family farm and was able to work from there, but I realised young people generally still had to leave for study and work.
“As a result, I am committed to supporting the changes that will strengthen our local economy, farms and businesses so that our kids can make the choice to stay, leave, or leave and return later and have a good career.”
Having been through the Black Summer fires and the Covid pandemic, Ms Kotvojos said she knows the realities of recovery and rebuilding for individuals, businesses, and communities.
“I know that for many it takes ongoing support over time,” she said.
“I will continue the work already started by Andrew and ensure that we come back stronger than before.”
With millions of dollars committed by the government toward better local healthcare, including HealthOne for Bateman’s Bay and the new Level 4 Eurobodalla Regional Hospital, Ms Kotvojos said she wants to make sure the community continues to have someone who can help deliver important services as part of the NSW Government.
“I am also focused on ensuring that the Government’s program of road upgrades continues across both Bega and Eurobodalla, and that we continue to invest in our infrastructure to improve safety and reliability,” she said.
“In particular, Brown Mountain, Narooma and Brogo bridges, Moruya bypass, and Bingie and Tuross intersections with Princess Highway.”
Ms Kotvojos said she is committed to listening to the community and has admired its resilience in the wake of recent disasters.
“This really came to the fore during the bushfires, when everyone really looked out for each other,” she said.
“I saw it at Cobargo and Quaama with the establishment of the evacuation centre and then the recovery and rebuild, where each person contributed what they had to help others – be it hay, fuel, food, time or an ear.
“I saw it during Covid, where communities set up mechanisms to make sure shopping was done, books and jigsaws dropped in for those who were isolating, and teddy bears put in windows for children to spot.
“I saw it in the floods at Mogo where people came to help the clean-up.
“When we each help each other, that is when we are strongest, that is when we are at our best.
“That is what I most love about my community.”
Peter Haggar – The Greens
Bega Greens party hopeful Peter Haggar said the devastation of the Black Summer fires sharpened his focus on the need to tackle climate change, both its causes and its effects.
Mr Haggar first moved to the Bega area in 2006 and now runs Cafe Evolve.
He urged for the protection of native forests from native logging as one of the most pressing in his electorate, and said the halting of such practices was one of the “cheapest, quickest, easiest and most practical” ways to slow climate change and reduce the threat of future catastrophic wildfires.
“As a Greens candidate I have to be realistic about my chances of election, but to have this opportunity to engage with voters on vital issues affecting the future of the planet is a valuable experience for me and has the potential to influence politicians,” he said.
“Fundamental to my approach across all policy areas is improving our relationship with peoples of the Yuin nation and recognising not only that their rights were never ceded and that they have leadership roles to play in the years ahead.
“I would like to see the name of the electorate changed to better reflect the First Nation’s connection with country.”
Mr Haggar said the far south coast was experiencing a housing crisis, and urged for better use of under-utilised investment properties, especially in coastal areas.
“Many of these (homes) could be utilised for short and long term leases,” he said.
“Victoria has introduced a vacant residential land tax which applies to houses vacant for more than six months.
“Such a tax would help address our lack of housing supply, with revenue spent on increasing affordable housing availability.
“We also need more help for vulnerable people who are homeless or have little or no security in housing.”
When it came to the Covid pandemic, Mr Haggar said if there was one positive effect from the current crisis it was that it drove home the need to have a good public health system.
“It is easy enough to build ‘another shed’ but the hard part is ensuring that we invest in people and training and this is where our governments are repeatedly failing,” he said.
“New buildings will only ever be as good as the staff resources allocated to them.”
As for bushfire recovery, he said that even two years on from the fires, there was still a long way to go, with too many people still living in makeshift accommodation.
“Recovery must also include greater recognition of the causes of the fires and the most effective ways to monitor and fight them,” he said.
“Central to this is a commitment to end native forest logging and to drastically cut our carbon emissions.”
As for the Greens chances on election day, Mr Haggar said, along with his party men, he would continue to challenge corruption in government.
“Personally, I am heartily sick of government bulls**t, incompetence, corruption and pork-barrelling,” he said.
“We stand for positive change – for better public schools and TAFE, for your health, for the environment.
“A vote for the Greens for stronger and safer communities, the oceans, forests, the climate and the planet. “
Victor Hazir – Shooters, Fishers and Farmers
Victor Hazir will stand for the seat of Bega as the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate.
The former taxi driver said the protection of recreational fishing the current housing crisis were top of the agenda.
“The safeguarding of both recreational fishing and ensuring that commercial fishing is maintained to the region in order to retain as many jobs as possible is a key issue,” he said.
“Currently the southern fish trawl has left a lot of commercial fishermen wanting to exit the industry due to the potential over-regulation and excessive licensing fees.
“If the government is forcing people out then they need to be compensated.”
Mr Hazir said affordable housing not only affects young locals trying to get into the market, but it also restricts small business growth.
“The proposed property tax only adds to the struggle for newcomers entering the property market,” he said.
“If the Liberal-National Government genuinely cared, they’d cap the tax to the equal value of the stamp duty and divide the cost over the life of the loan.
“If money is flowing to Bega but we can’t house workers migrating here then we won’t see the growth we need.”
Mr Hazir said more needed to be done to help locals get back on their feet after the Black Summer fires.
“There are those out there that need help but either don’t know how to get it or for some egregious reason have been denied it,” he said.
“These people need to be identified and given whatever help our community can.”
Karin Geiselhart – Sustainable Australia Party
Former high school teacher and journalist Karin Geiselhart said her years spent covering the federal government have shown how transparency and accountability can too often be sidelined.
The former postdoctoral fellow said the underlying motivation behind her extensive study of democracy and governmental science was a deep love for nature.
“For this reason I became an Al Gore climate change presenter about 14 years ago,” she said.
“I ran several courses on climate change and adaptation on the south coast through the University of the Third Age.”
Ms Geiselhart said the Sustainable Australia Party was seeking not just to address climate change, but to redefine what “growth” means so that it meets the needs of the widest possible number of people.
“Binding and sincere consultation with full transparency is key,” she said.
“We are an independent community movement from a centrist perspective (and) what we don‘t want is further divisions in society that lead to some people having electric cars and solar panels and others without access to affordable housing, public transport or suitable educational and occupational choices.”
If elected, Ms Geiselhart said she would push for advancements in education and would look for new models in taking current issues such as the Covid pandemic and the housing crisis.
“The problems that face us require an integrated approach, not piecemeal policies that lack underlying cohesive goals,” she said.
“For example, supporting TAFE – and preventing its privatisation – has to be considered in connection with affordable housing and public transport.
“A fresh look at different housing models is now needed to address the housing crisis – for example, eco villages or cluster housing that promotes social interaction and shared facilities in both rural and urban areas.
“We need to end overdevelopment and the current over emphasis on the housing industry for economic growth.
“Housing is a right, not just an economic lever that ignores social needs.”
Ms Geiselhart said the Covid pandemic was another “body blow” after the Black Summer fires.
“ (Covid) has exposed weaknesses in our aged care and hospital systems,” she said.
“Preventive health care that bolsters our immune system is another learning.
“Bush fires will worsen with climate change, so addressing that is critical, (including) buildings that are maximally resistant to fire, and suitably located are important.
“Of equal importance is the co-ordination of emergency services and facilities.
“As a humble member of the SES, I appreciate that recruitment and retention of volunteers is very important and serves the community mentally and socially as well as physically with their assistance.”
Ms Geiselhart’s message to voters was the need for correct policies to shift the State Government in the direction of creating a more sustainable future.
“We live in times of rapid change, and we run the risk of losing sight of our place in the natural world,” she said.
“If we work together we can creatively meet the substantial challenges of our age – rejuvenating our democratic processes is key to achieving this.”
Jeffrey Hawkins – Independent
Tathra resident Jeffrey Hawkins will contest the seat of Bega as an independent candidate.
Mr Hawkins described his core values in a Facebook post dated January 28 on the Merimbula and District Community Notice Board as being: “Do no harm, cause no loss, in all things be honourable, the rule of law, and the freedom to choose.”
Mr Hawkins stated in the same post he’d been informed by the community that their key concerns were job security, affordable housing, creative & community engagement activities, and accountability and transparency.
In a later post dated February 1, Mr Hawkins commented that he was the only representative at a public forum hosted by the Tuross Heads Progress Association who did not wear a face mask.
In that same post, Mr Hawkins described the mask mandate in NSW as being unlawful.
Mr Hawkins Facebook account displays images of the red ensign, a symbol commonly used by anti-vaccine protesters.
Ursula Bennett – Independent
Moruya resident Ursula Bennett is an independent whose platform includes calls for an end to the vaccine mandate.
The former Christian Democratic Party member has actively publicised her support for the anti-vaccine protests in Canberra on her Facebook page, including shared video of protesters and images of the Australian flag placed upside down.
In a post dated February 8, Ms Bennett stated: “Wish I was there, they have my support and my prayers.”
Ms Bennett has also stated her support for “protecting life from conception to natural death”, echoing pro-life messages.
Monaro
Bryce Wilson – Labor
Saturday’s Monaro by-election is far from Labor Candidate Bryce Wilson’s first rodeo.
Mr Wilson, who was recently elected as a councillor for the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional council, went head-to-head against former National’s MP John Barilaro in 2019.
He is a former teacher and a proud Jerrabomberra resident, serving time as president of the Jerrabomberra Public School Parents and Citizens Association and a member of the local residents’ association.
Wilson described Monaro as a “patchwork of an electorate” with “many wonderful communities with very different issues.”
However he said issues of pandemic response and its impact on businesses and the health sector, education and housing affordability are being felt across the region.
“If you walk into any cafe anywhere across the electorate they’ll tell you they’re struggling,” Mr Wilson said.
“The handling of the pandemic by Dominic Perrottet, lifting the mask mandate, letting omicron get away from us a bit (resulted in) a shadow lockdown without any business support.”
To the electorate Wilson says this:
“If you want a hard working MP who’s going to represent every community well, across the electorate, I’m ready,” he said.
“Most importantly if you are not satisfied with how the government is performing on issues that matters to you then you shouldn’t vote for them.
“The best way to make (the government) listen to this community is by sending a message on February 12. “
Nichole Overall – The Nationals
For more than 30 years, The National’s Monaro candidate Nichole Overall has lived in the Queanbeyan
The well-known resident has tried her hand at a number of different professions, including being a journalist, historian, and author.
She is also the wife of former Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Mayor Tim Overall, who held the top job for 14 years, overseeing the merger of Queanbeyan and Palerang Councils in 2016.
Mrs Overall was also named Monaro Woman of the Year in 2020.
She announced her candidacy for the Monaro by-election in October last year with full support of outgoing MP John Barilaro who said he had been “left in awe with how dedicated she is to our community,”
NSW Nationals leader and Deputy Premier Paul Toole described Overall as a “straight shooter” after announcing her candidacy
“I am confident Nichole will carry on John’s record of delivering for all Monaro residents, from Queanbeyan to Jindabyne and everywhere in between,” he said.
Catherine Moore – The Greens
Braidwood artist Catherine Moore will make her fourth run at the NSW state seat of Monaro on Saturday.
The former Queanbeyan-Palerang councillor previously stood for the federal seat of Eden-Monaro in 2010.
In a Facebook post by The Greens NSW announcing Ms Moore’s candidacy alongside other candidates in Saturday’s elections, the party stated that: “Each of them is ready to take on the politics-as-usual of the Coalition and Labor that is paid for by their big corporate and billionaire donors.
“We don’t have the deep pockets of big business buddies and dodgy donors like the other parties do, but we have you and thousands more people across the state just like you.
“That’s how we will change politics and have a parliament committed to people and the planet.”
Frankie Seymour – Animal Justice Party
For more than 40 years, Frankie Seymour has been a proactive proponent of animal rights issues in the region as a member of the Animal Justice Party, and has said he will prioritise those issues should he be elected on February 12.
The public service veteran and former Sea Shepard activist plans to scrap the Biodiversity Conservation Act if elected, replacing it with legislation that would better protects native animals and habitat.
The Animal justice Party’s priorities this election include the current “open slather massacre” of kangaroos and other native wildlife, unregulated clearance of remnant wildlife habitat, the use of dangerous poisons like 1080, the trapping and “slaughter” of brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park, and the urgent need for governments to provide incentives and assistance for farmers of Monaro to transition to more sustainable and humane farming practices.
Mr Seymour said issues of animal welfare were interconnected with those of human welfare.
“All the experience of the animal advocates who form the Animal Justice Party has shown us that human and animal wellbeing are dependent on each other,” he said
“While humans continue to commit injustices against animals, humans also suffer.
“Where we commit injustices against our fellow humans, animals also suffer.”
The Queanbeyan resident said the principle of human-animal welfare going hand-in-hand was evidenced by recent pandemics around the world, including Covid.
“All of the (pandemics) have emerged in conditions where animals were abused – factory farming, slaughter and sale establishments, habitat destruction,” he said.
“We need policies and legislation that recognise the impacts of the current pandemic – and the ones yet to come unless, as a species, we change our treatment of animals and nature – on animals and ensure that all measures to protect humans are extended to animals.
“Most importantly we need to reduce our chances, here in Australia, of becoming the epicentre of the next pandemic; we need to shut down our factory farms and our bushmeat industries.”
Mr Seymour pledged to support any government intervention needed to reduce the cost and increase the availability of housing for everyone, including for families with companion animals, and said he would be proactive on other regional issues.
“I would support the transition of the current NSW obsession with roads and road upgrades to a focus on rail and rail upgrades,” he said.
“Roads are death traps for wild animals, and the wider the road the greater the risk to any animals crossing it.
“Given that all Australia’s energy needs could – and will, the only question is when – easily be supplied from sun, wind and geothermal sources, I would vote to stop Snowy 2 in its tracks.
“The first Snowy River Scheme was a disaster for wildlife. The last thing the Snowy region needs is yet more dams starving ecosystems and wildlife.”
Mr Seymour’s message to voters is that a vote for the Animal Justice Party is a vote for justice for all humans and animals.
“We have to stop believing our governments when they blame the innocent, the defenceless, the vulnerable – both human and non-human – to distract attention from the problems they have, for decades, studiously declined to fix,” he said.
“We have to help our state to take the hard decisions needed to prevent the next pandemic and to survive the existential threat of climate change.”
Ms Seymour previously contested the seat of Monaro at the 2019 NSW election and Eden-Monaro at the 2016 federal election.
James Holgate – Sustainable Australia Party – Stop Overdevelopment / Corruption
After failing to gain a seat at the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council elections in 2021, Sustainable Australia Party candidate James Holgate will contest the NSW state seat of Monaro in 2022.
Mr Holgate was born in Queanbeyan and raised in Cooma, according to the party’s website, and has continued to follow politics in Australia during an “extensive international career” while living and working in a number of countries.
“He became interested in the (party) while campaigning as an independent candidate for the federal seat of Eden-Monaro as the policies and values align with his own,” the website states.
“He loves the natural environment of the Monaro region and enjoys the range of outdoor activities available locally, from the snow to the sea.
“He loves the traditional and diverse cultural richness unique to this region and wants to ensure that we fulfil our primary moral responsibility to pass on an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable Australia to future generations.”
Mr Holgate brings broad lived experience to his candidacy, the website states, with unique insight into how to protect the natural environment, and stop overdevelopment and corruption.
Andrew Thaler – Independent
Independent candidate Andrew Thaler will contest the seat of Monaro after a failed run at leadership in the 2019 NSW state elections.
The Cooma scrap metal recycler said while it can be difficult to be heard as a single voice in state parliament, it can also be a position of power.
“Very often it is the independents who force the government to act on the community’s wishes, as the balance of power between the major parties means there is room for leverage and negotiation,” according to Mr Thaler’s website.
“Also, because of the grassroots nature of independents, they are able to bring issues to the attention of the parliament, which may not have been acknowledged before.”
While he plans to run again in 2022, Mr Thaler is critical of his previous run at leadership.
His website sates: “Just completely wasted my time in the State seat of Monaro – NSW state election 2019 – where I couldn't even beat the Animal Justice Party who are campaigning to ban pets, to ban farming animals, ban meat, ban eggs, to ban bacon.
“Seriously, the election result is completely embarrassing – two per cent (around 1000 people out of 57,000 in Monaro).
“Believe the rumours people, they are more fun than the facts.”
Mr Thaler’s website states his missions is to listen to individuals and groups within Eden Monaro, to always advocate for the community, and to push to achieve a sustainable, well planned and economically viable electorate.
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