Independent announces bid to take on Nationals in Mallee

A former dairy farmer has announced she will stand against the Nationals’ Anne Webster for the seat of Mallee.

Former dairy farmer Sophie Baldwin has announced she will run as an independent for the seat of Mallee in Victoria's northwest. Photo: Else Kennedy

A former dairy farmer has announced plans to run against the Nationals in the seat of Mallee, in Victoria’s northwest.

Sophie Baldwin, chief executive of lobby group Southern Riverina Irrigators and a regional journalist with 24 years’ experience running a dairy property, announced her plans to run for the seat on Friday.

“I’m very nervous,” she told The Weekly Times ahead of her campaign launch in Mildura.

“A few people asked me to run towards the end of last year. I thought about it, and then I thought, ‘nothing’s going to change if somebody doesn’t put their hand up to make a change’. So here I am,” she said.

Ms Baldwin has not yet released detailed policy documents, but said her “wishlist is long”.

“Better roads, better rail, better access to essential services from childcare to healthcare, and absolutely better systems of support for mental health,” were the top of her list, she said.

“Independents can represent their people without fear or favour.”

She said she would also back a campaign driven by state member for Mildura Ali Cupper, who has endorsed her as a candidate, for regional rate reform.

Ms Baldwin will take on incumbent Nationals MP Anne Webster, who polled 28 per cent of the primary vote in 2019 and gained the seat on preferences.

Former independent candidate and Rupanyup farmer Ray Kingston has backed Sophie Baldwin for the seat of Mallee in Victoria's northwest. Photo: Else Kennedy

Ms Baldwin has the backing of former independent candidate and Rupanyup farmer Ray Kingston, who polled nine per cent of the primary vote in 2019.

Mr Kingston said his experience at the last election showed independent candidates had the potential to draw significant votes away from the Liberal-National coalition, but too many independent candidates vying for the seat worked to their disadvantage in 2019.

“We made a difference to the way the seat was perceived last time, and the coalition primary vote dropped enormously.

“It’s very clear to me that there needs to be only one independent. We proved last time that with all the good will in the world, it is too hard to mobilise people (behind three separate independent candidates),” he said.

Mr Kingston and two other independent candidates – Jason Modica and Cecilia Moar – polled about 21 per cent of the primary vote between them at the last election.

The Liberal and National party candidates polled a combined 46.69 per cent of the primary vote, down from 64.31 per cent of the primary vote in 2016.

A second independent candidate, Horsham businesswoman Claudia Haenel, announced plans to run for Mallee in December.