Here are the candidates on the Wills election ballot and local issues shaping the campaign

The Greens are gaining ground in the safe Labor seat covering Brunswick, Coburg and Glenroy. Ahead of the May 18 poll, here’s a list of all Wills candidates and their platforms.

Greens candidate Adam Pulford is challenging for the seat of Wills.

While six candidates will fill the ballot, momentum gained by the Greens in the Victorian election last year is expected to make the contest of Wills a two-horse race come the May 18 Federal Election.

Former UN Youth Representative Adam Pulford was drawn to number four on the ballot on Wednesday, ahead of Labor incumbent Peter Khalil at number six.

MORE NEWS

CREDITS ROLL ON BRUNSWICK CINEMA PLAN

COBURG NORTH COUPLE TURN UP HEAT WITH HOMEMADE SAUCE

LEGO LOVERS TO TEST SKILLS ON TV SHOW

After Greens MP Tim Read won the seat of Brunswick off Labor for the first time in November, Mr Pulford hoped to carry the southern section of the electorate, which totals Brunswick, Coburg, Pascoe Vale, Fawkner, Hadfield, Oak Park and Glenroy.

Phil Cleary is the only non-Labor person to have represented the electorate, when he held the seat as an independent from 1993 to 1996.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

PETER KHALIL — LABOR

The incumbent, Mr Khalil won the seat for his first term by a 10 per cent margin in 2016. He succeeded Kelvin Thomson, who held the safe Labor seat for 20 years.

Labor Wills MP Peter Khalil has held the seat for three years.

Mr Khalil has focused on education and community sporting organisations in his campaign so far and was quick to admonish Senator Fraser Anning for his far-right activism earlier this year.

ADAM PULFORD — GREENS

Mr Pulford hit the ground running with a promise to fund the duplication of the Upfield train line on Wednesday.

Born in the Northern Territory, Mr Pulford moved to Brunswick eight years ago and said climate change and the treatment of asylum seekers would be battleground issues.

It’s official! Today the @AusElectoralCom drew the ballots for the Federal Election! I got to have a spin of the barrel before the numbers were pulled out 🌀 we’re #4 on the ballot paper for Wills, with 6 candidates contesting 🙌 pic.twitter.com/0zSgM8hmkT

— Adam Pulford (@adampulford) April 24, 2019

“I think Peter (Khalil) is a lovely guy and I’ve heard good things about him being around our community but I think people in Wills want someone who will fight for us and our values,” he said.

PETER KILLIN — LIBERAL

Officially preselected just three days out from the ballot draw, unknown Mr Killin will represent the Liberals.

Previous Liberal candidate Kevin Hong was clear third in total votes in the 2016 election.

SUE BOLTON — VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS

A Moreland Councillor representing the north-east ward, Cr Bolton’s name was also on the ballot for the senate as a Victorian Socialist at the Victorian election.

Sue Bolton with Jacob Andrewartha of The Public Housing Defence Network.

She is a member of the Upfield Transport Alliance, which is campaigning for more services and a track duplication on the Upfield train line, and an advocate for workers rights and social housing.

MANJU VENKAT — UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY

Mr Venkat has been active in the weeks leading up to the campaign in placing advertising material across the electorate for himself and Clive Palmer’s party.

Mr Venkat — a geologist and farmer — said he would stick to his party’s priorities, which include stopping foreign powers influencing Australian politics, making home loans tax deductible, less tax for those living in regional areas and investing money tied up in superannuation to benefit the nation.

CHRIS MILES — ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY

Mr Miles ran for AJP in the seat of Brunswick in November and recorded just 581 votes. His listed occupation with the Australian Electoral Commission is as a painter.