United Australia, Animal Justice, Reason and Socialists race for seat

Seven candidates will look to unseat incumbent Cooper federal Labor MP Ged Kearney on May 18. Here are the names you need to look out for.

Voters will go to the polls on May 18.

Seven candidates will look to unseat incumbent Cooper federal Labor MP Ged Kearney in this month’s election.

Ms Kearney won the seat in the 2018 by-election as a first time candidate with a margin of 4.4 per cent.

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But competitors will be spurred on by the absence of perennial Greens candidate Alex Bhathal.

Ms Bhathal quit the Greens and will be replaced by barrister David Risstrom, who served as a Green on Melbourne City Council.

COOPER BALLOT PAPER

Teresa Van Lieshout — Independent

Sarah Russell — Reason Australia

Brett Nangle — United Australia Party

Nadine Richings — Animal Justice Party

David Risstrom — Greens

Kath Larkin — Victorian Socialists

Ged Kearney — Labor

Andrew Bell — Liberal

Mr Risstrom’s campaign priorities include action on climate change, wages and improved public health.

Representing the Victorian Socialists is rail worker Kath Larkin, who supports higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations, increasing the minimum wage and reversing privatisation.

Biologist Dr Nadine Richings will run for the Animal Justice Party and use her experience as a conservationist to push for stronger environmental and animal policies.

Accountant Brett Nangle will represent the United Australia Party.

The tax specialist is also a women’s hockey coach and supports a reduction in taxes, abolishing the fringe benefits tax and increasing the aged pension by 20 per cent.

Also in the running for the seat are engineer Andrew Bell for the Liberal party, aged-care researcher Dr Sarah Russell for Reason Australia and teacher Teresa Van Lieshout as an independent.

@richardapearce