I also vote Indy if there is a good one, but the sad fact is that many electorates, incl mine, aren't prepared to step away from the traditional party system yet.

Same here. I liked the Indie who ran here last one, but she’s now running for Kiama in the state. Problem is she’s from Berry which is a wealthy enclave and that doesn’t go down well with the average local strugglers.

It's not easy standing as an Indie. I'm planning to have a go at the next Vic Elections in 2026. I don't know whether I'm a good candidate or not, but it's really difficult getting a message out to the electorate: the Lib and Lab advertising machine swamps everything else.

I wish you all the best. The successful Indies in my experience have been people who already have a high local profile, such as in local media.

Recent successful indies have high local profile, often from previous local experience eg local Govt, business, activism, etc. Also community independents have been chosen by groups of people who have come together to specifically change their political representation. Groups first then candidates

We’re a very large scattered electorate. Not many similarities between Nowra and Batemans Bay. Except the highway which we are all passionate about, our bits anyway. And healthcare which is getting better as far as hospitals go.

Good luck with it. But an easy route. But be really public about views and address national issues as well as local. And remember that people outside the electorate will often contribute. If they have a big enough reason, like unseating Dutton!

Independents can be decent, but simply being an independent does not make one decent. Many are more like the local councillors, many of whom have vested interests/agendas that do not align with my own. The vast majority of people in politics are self serving and immoral, almost a prerequisite.

Geez. Don’t mention Councils! Ours is a nightmare.

Local council is a major problem, and a major drain on people's money in this country. I worked for one once, I quit because they were so lazy. They voted themselves in a 13% pay rise while I was there. They all got a piece of paper that said 'do you want a 13% pay rise?'. They said yes.

Shoalhaven NSW. We keep reporting the unethical. And the waste. No action.

I am from Albany, WA, dodgy self serving council for decades, in a safe liberal seat. Now in Frankston, Vic, where I assume we have a council, but it is really hard to tell.

Not all of us vote for the duopoly, but most very clearly do. Then of course you have the parties that you mentioned: One Nation, Family First, Gunlickers, Family First, Trumpet of Dickheads... who all deserve to be right at the bottom. The decent choices are very, very rare.

It’s hard. This was a conservative stronghold for decades.

The duopoly is a con, neither side ever loses, they just have to wait to be voted back in again. They play the long game, and play us for fools. It is the same in the US, except the people there get much more giddy when they see their favourite politicians wearing their favourite 'teams' colours.

A vote for Labor, is effectively a vote for the duopoly to stay in power. A vote for a decent party instead, at the very least pushes the duopoly in a decent direction, just as votes for right wing parties push the duopoly in that direction, which is their preferred direction anyway.

It seems worse now, one nation also made ground in the last election, while the ALP and the coalition joined forces to market against the Greens. I was born in 1974, Australia for me was very Labor party... until John 'children overboard' Howard came along, and I lost all sense of patriotism.