Federal election 2022: Victorian independent, minor party candidates with a point of difference

We’ve heard it all before from the major parties. Get to know some of the more colourful Victorian candidates in the 2022 election.

From fashion designers to mathematicians, librarians to winemakers, it’s an interesting bunch that puts their hands up to represent their communities at election time.

Along with a large number of candidates campaigning on anti-lockdown/anti-vaccine mandate platforms — including a former Neighbours cast member — this year’s list of candidates includes a terrorist attack survivor, a bloke offering $20K handouts, a lifelong anarchist, and others advocating everything from nuclear power and national service, to bringing down the Chinese Communist Party, to good old fashioned love and kindness.

Here, we’ve rounded up half a dozen of the most colourful characters vying for your vote.

The secret agent

Independent senate candidate James Bond, 41, is “on a secret mission to infiltrate the Australian government and save the world before it’s too late”.

Bond launched his mysterious campaign via YouTube in early April and has since used various social media to promote a tax on Baby Boomers and the hashtag ‘#voteouttheboomers’.

Independent senate candidate James Bond wants to introduce a ‘Boomer Tax’ and crack down on ‘intergenerational theft’. Picture: YouTube

According to his online profiles, Bond is an entrepreneur with qualifications including a PhD in geography and legal studies from the University of Melbourne.

His tongue-in-cheek style has so far failed to gain traction, with only about 100 followers across his TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram accounts.

The ex-wrestler

Independent candidate in the seat of Casey, Craig Cole describes himself as a youth worker, disability care worker, motivational speaker, and retired pro wrestler.

With endorsement from far-right extremist group Australia One, the former Warzone Wrestling star is campaigning to “restore your sovereign rights and put an end to the increasing government control in our lives”.

The ‘vegan soldier’

Animal Justice Party candidate in the seat of Isaacs, Alix Livingstone, is campaign director at Kindness Project, an organisation that seeks to “assist the dismantling of the animal industrial complex through advocating for all those it harms; humans, non-human animals and the planet alike”.

Also known online as ‘Alix the Vegan’, the 20-something has made headlines for trespass of piggeries, chook sheds, beef farms, and lamb sales.

Vegan animal rights activist Alix Livingstone. Picture: News.com.au

The teenager

Max Martucci, 18, says he doesn’t want a career in politics but that progress in his preferred career in science, technology, and astronomy is “almost impossible” in Australia’s present political climate.

TNL’s 18-year-old candidate in the seat of Hawke, Max Martucci. Picture: Instagram

Running for TNL in the seat of Hawke, Martucci believes “constant progress is how we survive” and that TNL “doesn’t subscribe to the neoliberal belief that has inhibited any serious progress in society for years”.

@max_martucci Pumped for it 💪 #auspol #fyp #australia #max4hawke #politics #enrol ♬ original sound - Max Martucci

The snake-catcher

Independent for Hawke, Jarrod Bingham is no stranger to politics, having served as a Moorabool councillor and run for the federal seat of Gorton in 2019.

But he is arguably more famous for his work as a snake catcher, with videos of his ‘Reptile Relocations’ getting worldwide attention.

Bingham states on his Facebook profile that he is “a local, an active community member who believes we have been missing out for far too long”.

Independent candidate for Hawke Jarrod Bingham has used his job as a snake-catcher as a selling point in past election campaigns. Picture: Facebook

The doctor

Dr John B Myers was fined $10,000, ordered to pay the Medical Board of Australia’s legal costs and disqualified from applying for re-registration as a health practitioner for five years by the WA State Administrative Tribunal in February 2015.

A website promoting his independent campaign for the seat of Macnamara in this year’s election states he is standing for “honesty and clarity”.

The website further states Myers is not practising clinically but is “active in international meetings”.

Dr John Barry Myers faced misconduct allegations at the State Administrative Tribunal.

The homepage itself contains no less than 3000 words explaining Myer’s politics.

As an example:

“WHAT ABOUT AQUAPONICS>hydroponics with fish to feed the plants and feed off them, while you have fresh leafy vegetables, become energy independent and, as well, be farming your own fresh pet food, without the outside garden.

“And what about AI, Artificial Intelligence, that can free mums to look after their children, as well as be coached to be a better parent …”