All eyes will be on the electorate of Farrer in southern NSW today as voters head to the ballot box in what could be a history-making by-election.
The former Coalition stronghold has been in the political spotlight ever since the resignation of local MP and deposed Liberal leader Sussan Ley more than three months ago.
“We’ve had more politicians here in Griffith than we’ve had in our entire history,” former Griffith Business Chamber president Paul Pierotti said.
“We’ve been calling out the wrongdoings in these communities for a very long time, and now it seems [almost] every candidate is supporting the policies we’ve been trying to pursue.
“Where have they all been up until now?”
Paul Pierotti warns the incoming member for Farrer that voters will demand action on issues raised ahead of the by-election. (ABC News: Nicola Ceccato)
The vast electorate covers nearly 16 per cent of the state, including the border city of Albury, the multicultural industrial hub of Griffith, and dozens of communities reliant on irrigated agriculture, such as Deniliquin, Leeton, Jerilderie and Narrandera.
Farrer has been a safe Coalition seat since its creation in 1949, but 12 candidates are now vying to become its next local member.
One Nation’s David Farley and independent Michelle Milthorpe are considered the frontrunners, amid ongoing discontent with the major parties.
The electorate of Farrer covers 126,563 square kilometres, or nearly 16 per cent of New South Wales. (Supplied: Sussan Ley)
Carol Oataway is the mayor of Hay, which sits in the centre of the electorate.
She has welcomed the unprecedented levels of attention on the electorate, saying it has highlighted to the nation the important role the region plays in producing food, fibre and renewable energy.
But Cr Oataway said she was now eager for the campaigning to come to an end.
“I am looking forward to having a local member we can begin working with again,” she said.
“We’ve been a while now without one, and there are times when you want to advocate and we don’t have a member.”
Carol Oataway says the lack of a local MP has been felt in Farrer. (ABC News: Nicola Ceccato)
With no Labor candidate standing, whoever wins will have to work with the federal government to act on the pledges made during the campaign.
“I think they’re going to have to work very hard to do that,” Cr Oataway said.
“They’ve made these promises. As soon as they’re elected they need to start getting to work with the government so we can see progress on some of these things.”
Mr Pierotti said the electorate would expect whoever won the seat to deliver action from Canberra.
“Anyone who ignores that, it will be at their peril,” he said.
“These regional communities will no longer tolerate being treated with contempt and there will be significant backlash.”
The Australian Electoral Commission said yesterday that nearly 50,000 voters, or 40 per cent of those enrolled in Farrer, had already cast their vote.
Polls open at 8am AEST.