Farrer By-election 2026

Butkowski was elected as an independent Albury City councillor in October 2024. She also serves as a board member of the Murray-Darling Association and works as a Senior Lawyer for Hume Riverina Community Legal Service. Prior to her law career she worked as a lab technician and a tennis coach.

Milthorpe is an educator and child sexual assault advocate based in Jindera. She holds an education degree from the Australian Catholic University. She contested this seat in the 2025 federal election, polling 20 per cent of the primary vote and finishing second after preferences with 43.8 per cent of the vote.

Farley is an agribusiness and irrigation professional from Narrandera. The 69-year-old has worked in the United States, Africa and the former Soviet Union and is interested in water reform in the Murray-Darling basin. He is a former chief executive of the Australian Agricultural Company.

Bonnefin is the director of an energy compliance and sustainability assessment business in the building industry. He was born in Newcastle, spent his early years in Wilcannia, and currently lives on the Central Coast with his wife and two children. He says he has been inspired by leaders like Henry Parkes and Gerard Rennick to step into public life.

Ellis works as an urban planner and is a volunteer manager at local soccer clubs. He spent his formative years in Albury, later travelling and working overseas. He has also been endorsed as the Sustainable Australia Party candidate for Albury at the 2027 NSW state election. 

Hendrie is a mental health and disability advocate and was the 2025 Albury Citizen of the Year. He holds senior roles representing lived experience perspectives to state government and national boards, and has qualifications in social work, arts, and psychology. He is a resident of Lavington and was the Greens candidate for Farrer at the 2025 federal election.

Pappin has served as the councillor for Greater Wakool Ward on Murray River Council since 2024. Before his election to council, he worked in the agriculture and mining, as well as in the public service working on water infrastructure. He cites a history of advocacy both locally and globally, particularly in relation to the Murray Darling Basin.

Pearson has a professional background in community pharmacy and oncology. Her key campaign issues include strengthening Albury Hospital services and changing how driving laws apply to medicinal cannabis users.

Robertson had a 29 year career in the Australian Army, including senior roles in Canberra and an overseas posting to the Australian embassy to Saudi Arabia in Riyadh. He is currently chair of the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund and chair of Manufacturing BRIDGE, advocating for stronger regional manufacturing, local jobs and economic growth across the region. Robertson is chairperson of the NSW Nationals.

Scriven is originally from South Australia but now lives just north of Albury and works at an independent Christian school.

Sinclair is a Holbrook local who worked for the Greater Hume Shire for 17 years. He is also a former army reservist and member of the Hume Pistol Club. He has been a Shooters, Fishers and Farmers member since the party's inception in 1992 and prevously ran for Farrer in 2025. He also stood for the state seat of Albury in 2023.

Woodward is a chartered accountant and was a volunteer firefighter with the RFS. He has run as an independent candidate in the division of Berowra in Sydney's outer north at every federal election since 2016 as well as the 2024 Cook by-election.