The 2025 federal election could change the narrative for Flinders, a traditionally Liberal stronghold. The race is intensifying, making Flinders one of the most competitive electorates in Victoria. Incumbent MP Zoe McKenzie leads, but rising campaigns from independent Ben Smith and Labor’s Sarah Race indicate a shift in voter sentiment.
Zoe McKenzie – Liberal Party
Zoe McKenzie, the sitting MP, enjoys the advantages of incumbency alongside substantial party support. Since taking office in 2022 after Greg Hunt’s retirement, she has participated actively in parliamentary committees and joined the Speaker’s Panel in 2024. McKenzie’s campaign highlights economic stability, infrastructure, and small business support. However, her emphasis on retaining traditional Liberal voters may isolate those seeking new perspectives.
Sarah Race – Australian Labor Party
Labor’s Sarah Race, a former councillor of the Mornington Peninsula Shire, has strong community ties. Despite a national trend toward opposing leftist parties, a recent poll indicates Race leading the race. This implies significant local backing for her commitments to enhancing public transport, increasing community service investment, and environmental protection. Additionally, an anticipated Greens candidate could lead to preference flows favoring Labor.
Ben Smith – Independent
Emerging as a strong competitor, independent Ben Smith benefits from significant financial support, particularly from Climate 200. He emphasizes climate action, transparency, and community-driven policies. Rising voter dissatisfaction could bolster Smith’s campaign and challenge McKenzie’s incumbency.
Adam Frogley – The Greens
Greens candidate Adam Frogley, a Taungurung man with two decades of Indigenous, educational, and environmental advocacy experience, presents a strong platform focused on climate action and social justice. While historically challenging in Flinders, Frogley’s candidacy may help Labor by attracting Green voter preferences.
Mike Brown – Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
Mike Brown, a small business owner, campaigns on “traditional Australian values,” advocating for cost-of-living relief and energy security through fossil fuels. His platform aims to engage disenchanted voters searching for alternatives to the mainstream.
A Changing Political Landscape
The Electorate of Flinders, encompassing the stunning Mornington Peninsula from Portsea to Somerville, once guaranteed Liberal victories. As local priorities shift, the electoral landscape becomes more unpredictable.
What Matters to Voters?
In this election, party allegiance takes a backseat to the quest for impactful change. Key issues such as housing affordability, infrastructure investment, climate policy, and cost of living are dominating discussions as election day approaches. Voters will soon decide whether McKenzie can hold her seat or if their dissatisfaction will disrupt the status quo.
2 Responses
Sam Groth: “Thankfully, Flinders already has an effective federal member in Zoe McKenzie, who strongly advocates for issues where the federal government has responsibility”
Zoe has consistently voted against A transition plan for coal workers, Capping gas prices while complaining about cost of living, Criminalising wage theft, Encouraging Australian-based industry, Federal action on public housing, Increasing housing affordability, Increasing investment in renewable energy, Increasing protection of Australia’s fresh water, Increasing transparency of big business by making information public, Increasing workplace protections, Letting all MPs or Senators speak in Parliament (procedural), Making TAFE education fee-free, Net zero emissions by 2035, Protecting threatened forest and bushland habitats, The Paris Climate Agreement, Vehicle efficiency standards.
Somehow I don’t think this represents us and what we want. Maybe She did not agree this was the right thing to do but was told how to vote by the party and as a loyal party slave did her job of protecting the party not the people.
This election like no other in our history will play a small part in the future planet we pass on to our children and their children . The two major parties unfortunately have and continue to place the future of a minority group ahead of all else . They are a duopoly like the airlines and the supermarkets . The major parties first interest is power not people . We do not need an elected dictatorship to run this country with puppet candidates who are told how to think and vote the day they win a seat .This type of candidate DOES NOT REPRESENT YOU .Our natural resources are owned by foreign companies many of whom use or steal our resources and services and pay little or no tax . The Nurses and staff at our Rosebud Hospital as a group pay more tax than some of these companies and the duopoly have allowed this to happen for decades .A vote for the duopolies Labor or Liberal is like voting for Trump and the world can not afford to have more of his kind in power .