NOMINATIONS have now closed for the 2025 federal election with seven candidates competing in the Flinders electorate.
The nominated candidates are, in ballot order: Jason Smart (Trumpet of Patriots), Ben Smith (Independent), Zoe McKenzie (Liberal), Mike Brown (One Nation), Joseph Toscano (Independent), Sarah Race (Labor) and Adam Frogley (Greens).
The field of seven is substantially smaller than in 2022 when ten candidates contested the seat including two independents, and candidates from United Australia, Liberal Democrats, Animal Justice Party and Federation Party.
Zoe McKenzie’s big announcement for last week was a $2m investment by an elected Dutton Liberal government to improve mobile coverage for residents, businesses and visitors in Somerville. The investment would involve erecting a telecommunications tower east of Jones Road, Somerville.
The announcement is in response to a decade long push to improve mobile coverage in Somerville (Push for Somerville phone tower rejected, The News 22/10/24).
The News reported last year that “Despite their persistent fight for better connectivity, particularly in the east Somerville area for the past ten years, the federal government did not include the suburb in its second round of funding through the peri-urban mobile program”.
Shadow Minister for Communications, Melissa McIntosh MP, said the announcement will address connectivity issues for the Somerville community who have been calling for better mobile coverage.
“Digital connectivity is an essential part of how we work, learn, stay safe and remain in contact with family and friends,” said McIntosh. “The Liberals will continue to invest in telecommunications infrastructure as part of our plan to strengthen local communities and to get Australia back on track.”
McKenzie told The News “I’ve had strong feedback from Somerville residents that reception upgrades are urgently needed. “Some parts of Somerville don’t even get signal. This is not good enough, even before you consider that this is one of the fastest growing suburbs of the Mornington Peninsula – attracting new businesses and residents. “This commitment will ensure that Somerville has the telecommunication infrastructure it urgently needs.”
Independent for Flinders, Ben Smith, has slammed both major parties for “decades of corruption, secretive deals, and prioritising vested interests over the public good, while outlining his priorities to restore trust in our democracy”. “For too long, Labor and Liberal have been more focused on donors and corporate mates than the people they’re supposed to represent,” said Smith. “When it comes to price gouging by supermarkets, insurance companies and energy companies, both parties fail us because they’re too captured by the industries they’re meant to regulate.”
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Smith pointed to a range of bipartisan failures driven by vested interests and behind-the-scenes lobbying. “We’ve seen the major parties water down reforms in gambling advertising after pressure from lobbyists despite widespread public support, waste billions on overpriced contracts, allow inappropriate development of our local environment, and let former ministers walk into lobbying jobs,” Smith said. “No wonder trust in politicians is so low.”
Smith criticised the major parties for making election promises they have no intention of keeping. “Too often, candidates pledge funding during the campaign, but after election day is over, those promises disappear,” he said. “Voters deserve more than empty promises — they deserve real commitments that are honoured, and an MP that will stand up for them.” “As an independent, my only responsibility is to the people of Flinders, not party bosses or corporate donors.”
Labor’s candidate for Flinders Sarah Race hosted a Women’s Health Roundtable with Senator for Victoria Jana Stewart at the Rosebud Hospital community rooms. The roundtable was attended by local women including women’s health advocates and secondary school students.
“Labor’s historic $573.3 million dollar women’s health investment is giving women more affordable and accessible health care,” said Race. “The package includes PBS listing for new oral contraceptive pills and menopause therapies, more bulk billing for IUDs and birth control implants, and funding 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics with specialist staff. “These changes will save women hundreds of dollars a year.”
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Race told The News that Labor is also making life more affordable and equal for women by:
- making childcare cheaper and investing $1 billion into more centres
- expanding paid parental leave including superannuation
- increasing support for single parents and women escaping violence
- record investments to end gender-based violence and increasing paid domestic violence leave
- increasing wages in aged care and early education
Race also recently announced significant funding for crisis accommodation on the Peninsula for women fleeing domestic violence. “The Labor campaign has had fantastic support from senior Labor women including visits from Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King, Assistant Minister for Women Kate Thwaites, Senator Jess Walsh, and Senator Jana Stewart,” said Race. “The Albanese Labor Government has been Australia’s first women-majority government.”
Greens candidate Adam Frogley has said that “fixing” property investor tax breaks would be a Greens priority in a minority government. “Labor and the Liberals are giving $176 billion in tax handouts to wealthy property investors. While millions of us face soaring rents and unaffordable homes,” said Frogley. “Renters and first home buyers don’t stand a chance.
“Action on negative gearing and Capital Gains Tax discount reform will be one the Greens priorities in minority government, in order to make housing affordable for renters and first home buyers and help shield first home buyers from the fallout of Trump’s global tariff chaos. “These unfair tax breaks make it easier for a wealthy property investor to buy their fifth or sixth home than a renter to buy their first, and make property a sought-after target for investors during periods of economic uncertainty.”
Greens have revealed independent analysis showing that changes to Negative Gearing and Capital Gains Tax would allow more than 850,000 people to live in a home they own – allowing many of the 31% of households who rent to move into home ownership. “We are the party for renters and first home buyers,” said Frogley.
First published in the Mornington News – 15 April 2025
