Raissa Butkowski is a councillor and lawyer. Photo: Linkedin.
The Liberal Party has nominated Albury councillor and lawyer Raissa Butkowski to run for the seat of Farrer at the upcoming by-election.
She narrowly defeated Lachlan McIntrye, a former senior advisor to the current MP Sussan Ley, 36 votes to 27 in a preselection event on Sunday (15 March).
Born and raised in Lavington, Ms Butkowski works as a senior lawyer for the not-for-profit Hume Riverina Community Legal Services. She was elected to Albury council on mayor Kevin Mack’s ticket in September 2024.
The nomination means all the key contenders have now selected their candidate to run in the by-election caused by Ms Ley’s recent resignation from parliament.
Retired army colonel Brad Roberton will run for the Nationals, Narrandera businessman David Farley for One Nation, disability advocate Richard Hendrie for the Greens, Christian school worker Rebecca Scriven for the Family First party, while Jindera teacher Michelle Milthorpe will run as an independent. The Labor Party will not run a candidate in the seat in which it has never been competitive.
The Liberal Party has held the seat since 2001 and currently hold it with a margin of 6.2 per cent. But according to betting agency Sportsbet, the party are $7 rank outsiders to retain Farrer. Ms Milthorpe is favourite at $1.91, Nationals are $3.40 while One Nation’s David Farley is at $4.33.
Earlier this week, think tank The Australia Institute released a poll of 1000 voters in Farrer which asked the question: If this federal by-election were held today, who would receive your first preference vote?
Some 29 per cent said One Nation, 23 per cent said Ms Milthorpe, 19 per cent said Liberal, 5 per cent said the Nationals and 4 per cent said the Greens.
This means the final result might come down to whom the Liberal and National parties recommend giving their preferences to on their how-to-vote cards.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged the Coalition to put One Nation last, arguing their policies and rhetoric are too extreme, particularly on immigration and multiculturalism.
However, Liberal deputy leader Jane Hume has said she is open to doing a preference deal with the right-wing minor party.
The by-election will be held on Saturday 9 May.
