The Speaker of the House of Representatives has officially set 9 May 2026 as the date for the Farrer by-election, prompting Independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe to formalise her campaign for the seat.

In Short

• The Date is Set: The Farrer by-election will take place on Saturday, 9 May 2026, following the resignation of Liberal Deputy Leader Sussan Ley.
• Key Policy Demands: Independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe is centering her campaign on a Federal Royal Commission into Water Management and addressing the "triple-digit" spike in water prices.
• Service Gaps: The campaign highlights a "national crisis" in regional infrastructure, specifically calling for a new hospital in Albury and improved telecommunications in Hay and Wentworth.

The by-election was triggered by the recent resignation of former Liberal Deputy Leader Sussan Ley. Ms Milthorpe, a Jindera-based educator and advocate, confirmed she will contest the seat for a second time after finishing in second place at the 2025 federal election.

The 9 May poll will be the first major electoral test for the region since the 2025 general election.

Regional Priorities and Water Reform

During a campaign stop in Griffith, Ms Milthorpe addressed several issues she identified as critical to the western and central reaches of the electorate, including the local government areas of Hay, Balranald, Carrathool, and Central Darling.

Central to her platform is a call for a federal Royal Commission into water management. Ms Milthorpe attributed recent financial pressures on primary producers to fluctuating water costs.

"The by-election could not come any sooner, because the people of Farrer have been forgotten," Ms Milthorpe said. "We are tough, and we get on with things, but everyone has their breaking point, and too many people across Farrer are reaching theirs."

"We are the food bowl of Australia, we have given so much to this country, but party politicians in Canberra are too busy fighting each other to give us anything in return."

Ms Milthorpe stated that the current economic climate for agriculture necessitated federal intervention.

"We need a federal Royal Commission Into Water," she said. "Generational farmers are selling up because the price of water has tripled in just the past year. This is a national crisis, and a national crisis demands a national response."

Infrastructure and Essential Services

Ms Milthorpe’s campaign also highlights disparities in telecommunications and social services across the region. She pointed to specific connectivity issues in the Hay district and surrounding western shires as a primary concern for the community.

"Water is just one of many ways our electorate has been forgotten," Ms Milthorpe said.

"We need a new public hospital in Albury to give the growing regional city and its surrounding areas the modern medical care it deserves. We need proper phone reception out in Hay and Wentworth. We need more childcare staff, the waitlist in some towns is now more than 300 kids. And we have a dire need for more aged care support, so people can grow old with dignity in their own communities."

The candidate argued that the historical status of Farrer as a safe seat has contributed to a lack of investment in regional infrastructure.

"These are problems that would be fixed if we lived in the cities," Ms Milthorpe said. "For too long, politicians have overlooked our community because we are a safe seat. Last election showed there was a real appetite for change, and this election we’re ready to finish the job."

Candidate Background

Ms Milthorpe, who was raised in Cootamundra, gained public prominence through her advocacy for child sexual assault survivors.

Her campaigning previously resulted in a $64 million commitment from the NSW Government to expand court support services for children in regional areas.