Four more candidates launch their election campaigns in Barker
The Greens, Family First and new party Trumpet of Patriots have all announced their candidates, and a third independent has thrown her hat into the ring, too.
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At least nine candidates will contest the 2025 federal election in Barker after four more launched their campaigns during the past week.
The Greens, Family First and new party Trumpet of Patriots will all be represented on Murraylands residents’ ballot papers, and a third independent has thrown her hat into the ring, too.
They will join Labor’s James Rothe, the Nationals’ Jonathan Pietzsch and independents Ian Penno and Cody Scholes in opposing Liberal MP Tony Pasin.
That might not be all, either.
Candidates have until 12pm this Thursday, April 10, to lodge their paperwork with the Australian Electoral Commission.
In the meantime, here’s what we know about all the newcomers.
Ngarrindjeri elder will fly the flag for the Greens again
Most prominent among the four new candidates is Major “Moogy” Sumner OAM, a Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna elder who will stand on behalf of the Greens.
He previously ran as a Senate candidate for the party in 2022.
Mr Sumner, a performer and cultural ambassador, has travelled around the world with his Tal-Kin-Jeri dance group, and has been involved with campaigns to get the remains of Aboriginal ancestors returned to Australia.
He is also a member of South Australia’s Voice to Parliament.
“I’m passionate about people and planet – particularly saving the Murray and protecting the Great Australian Bight – while fighting to address inequality and for more Aboriginal representation in the federal parliament,” he said.
“I strive to protect the environment and will work in Canberra for a more sustainable nation and caring community.
“I believe we can do more to care for people and country than we currently are.”
- More information: greens.org.au.
Rosa Hillam will have another go
Another familiar face from the last election is Meningie’s Rosa Hillam, who will run as an independent this time around.
The artist, carer and part-time worker had been collecting signatures from supporters around the Murraylands over the past week, and revealed her plan to Murray Bridge News on Tuesday.
“For me, water and food security is always going to be the number-one (issue) on my list,” she said.
“Domestic violence is pretty much always going to be number two.
“Building stronger communities, we need good pathways for growth and prosperity, we need to be building better infrastructure … and we need to be embracing our diverse and multicultural communities, because they strengthen us.”
The other issue close to her heart was the cost of living, she said.
Unlike the current MP, who had a successful legal career before moving into politics, she understood what it was like to be unable to pay a power bill or to rely on Foodbank for groceries – “I’m coming from a grassroots perspective”.
Ms Hillam had run as a Greens candidate at a federal level twice in the past, as well as for mayor of the Coorong district at the 2022 local government elections.
Engineer will run for Family First
Representing the conservative Family First Party will be Michael Brohier, a mechanical engineer in the defence industry.
Humanitarian work is also close to his heart – he told Murray Bridge News he had spent a couple of months working in the Moria refugee camp in Greece and in Turkiye after an earthquake, and he directed an annual camp for foster children.
His priorities included addressing cost-of-living pressures, including by supporting gas and nuclear energy; protecting the right of schools to hire staff whose values were a fit; opposing "radical gender-fluid ideology"; and more help for people experiencing homelessness and poverty.
The Family First website says the party offers “the chance to vote for what matters with a clear conscience”.
“The Family First Party believes that strong families, freedom for faith, and protecting the most vulnerable are critical for the future of our community and our state,” it says.
- More information: www.familyfirstparty.org.au/michael_brohier.
Sound the trumpets, Robert Jameson is here
Finally, after a brief false start with another candidate, new political party Trumpet of Patriots have put forward Robert Jameson as their man for Barker.
No profile for Mr Jameson is yet listed on the party’s website.
However, he replied to a Murray Bridge News email to the party’s Barker email address.
Trumpet of Patriots is essentially a re-badged version of billionaire Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party, which ran candidates in Barker at the 2013, 2019 and 2022 elections.
The UAP was deregistered soon after the last election.
Mr Palmer then joined Trumpet of Patriots, the product of a merger between several micro-parties; was installed as its chairman; and it adopted his signature yellow colour scheme.
Its policies, modelled after those of US President Donald Trump, revolve around ending alleged government waste and corruption, and promoting free speech and the rights of the individual.
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