Voice of Farrer endorse Michelle Millthorpe as candidate for Farrer

Survivor advocate Michelle Milthorpe will contest the seat of Farrer. Image: supplied.

By Tertia Butcher

Voices of Farrer (VoF) have endorsed Michelle Milthorpe (above) as a community independent candidate for the seat of Farrer in the next federal election.

VoF released the following statement, and hosted a media event on Wednesday, September 18, at Jindera.

Mrs Milthorpe was raised in Cootamundra and is passionate about equity for regional Australians. Her connection to Farrer is strong, having lived within the electorate for more than 20 years. After a lifetime of country living, now in Jindera with her husband and three daughters, Mrs Milthorpe has a genuine care and affiliation with many of the people she hopes to represent.

"She understands the unique problems and challenges facing the diverse communities within the electorate," a VoF spokesperson said.

Mrs Milthorpe says, “I want to be a genuine representative of the people, someone who reflects the values of the electorate, stands up for regional communities and delivers outcomes for them. When the people of Farrer look at me, I hope they see parts of themselves reflected back – in my actions, words and decision making.”

Her parents, grandparents and extended family embody the values of hard work, service to others, and loyalty. It is through them that her fierce desire for social justice and equity originates.

“My empathy and strong sense of social justice means I will work hard to fight for what our communities need”, says Mrs Milthorpe. Throughout her life, she has worked as a teacher but has also coached netball teams, owned a small business and been a successful advocate for law reform, all of which required determination and persistence, and taught her to be solutions focused.

A quick online search of Mrs Milthorpe demonstrates her strength and ability to do hard things. Alongside her family, and with the support of survivor advocate Nina Funnell, Mrs Milthorpe was instrumental in securing $64.3 million of funding to extend the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Scheme, so that it was available to all children living in regional NSW. For Mrs Milthorpe, this was the beginning of her recognition that regional Australia is often overlooked by city-centric policies that are instituted by the major political parties.

“In the 21st century, regional Australians shouldn’t have to beg for basics such as safer roads, reliable telecommunications and access to quality healthcare.”

Mrs Milthorpe has said that being a politician was not something she ever thought she would do.

“I’ve never considered myself a politician, however, I felt there was a need for a genuine, present and reliable representative. I want the people of Farrer to feel that I represent their values, recognise their issues and come to trust in my determination to find solutions.”

Mrs Milthorpe views that the power of the independent is the ability to talk to people from all walks of life and all sides of politics without concern for party lines.

She says “As an independent member, the only people that I am accountable to are my constituents. I am not obliged to be aligned to other independents nor will I be tied to political parties, because my representation is about the people in the electorate that I live in.”

After her announcement, Mrs Milthorpe plans to be present in the many communities of Farrer to listen and learn from the people in the electorate. Her intention is to further grow her understanding of the issues that are impacting people’s ability to live their best lives. She hopes to collaborate with the people of Farrer to develop solutions and lead the way to create a place where all members of the community can thrive.