Independent raises stakes in 2025 federal election battle for Forrest
The federal seat of Forrest has been blue for more than half a century, but the retirement of its stalwart local member, Nola Marino, has left a power vacuum that is now the target of a well-resourced "teal" independent campaign.
Independent candidate Sue Chapman has entered Forrest's political fray this election, shaking up the status quo in a historically unremarkable seat when it comes to political contests.
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"I genuinely think this beautiful part of the world has been ignored for way too long … [and] the community sentiment is very strongly that the two-party system is no longer working," Dr Chapman said.
The contest has not gone unnoticed by the Liberal Party, which has sent a series of frontbenchers down the Forrest Highway from Perth to campaign alongside new Liberal candidate and former West Australian senator Ben Small.
Peter Dutton (left) is among high-profile visitors joining Ben Small in Forrest.
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ABC South West: Andrew Williams
)
It began with a visit by Coalition leader Peter Dutton, followed by Liberal Indigenous Affairs spokesperson
"I want to continue that legacy of being a very present local member," Mr Small said.
"
I'm not taking a single vote for granted this election.
"
Forrest stretches across WA's idyllic South West region, encompassing Bunbury and Margaret River.
It was safe ground for the Liberals until the last election when a 10 per cent swing to Labor turned
Dr Chapman 'not teal'
Dr Chapman is one of many independent candidates across the country who have received funding support from political action group Climate 200.
Sue Chapman says she is hopeful of winning the seat.
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ABC South West: Jacqueline Lynch
)
As a result, Dr Chapman has been subject to Liberal Party political "attacks", despite her rejecting the idea she is a '"teal" candidate.
Flyers have been posted around the electorate warning people not to take the "risk" of voting for the independent.
Dr Chapman has also been singled out in "Teals Revealed" Facebook ads, which the Liberals have spent more than $250,000 on nationwide.
The Liberals are funding flyers labelling Dr Chapman a teal and ex-Green.
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ABC South West: Jacqueline Lynch
)
Dr Chapman said she was disappointed by the "attack ads" being circulated.
"I have been labelled a Labor stooge, a Liberal plant, an extreme Green and part of a teal party and all of that is incorrect,"
she said.
"I am genuinely independent of any party."
Dr Chapman's well-resourced campaign is backed by Climate 200.
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ABC South West: Jacqueline Lynch
)
Dr Chapman was previously a member of the Greens and campaigned to
Dr Chapman previously campaigned for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road.
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ABC South West: Jacqueline Lynch
)
Mr Small defended the resources put towards ads targeting Dr Chapman, but would not be drawn on whether he was worried about losing the seat.
"Where you do have that history of activism, including getting [former Greens leader] Bob Brown over to attend protest rallies … you need to be clear with people," Mr Small said.
"That does look and sound radical to me."
Ben Small has been campaigning hard to keep the seat of Forrest.
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ABC South West: Jacqueline Lynch
)
The moment for change?
Labor is also vying to fill the power vacuum left by departing incumbent Nola Marino.
Labor's candidate Tabitha Dowding is the granddaughter of controversial former WA premier Peter Dowding and was just nine years old when Ms Marino was elected into parliament in 2007.
Tabitha Dowding says now is the time for change.
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ABC South West: Andrew Williams
)
With Ms Marino stepping back, Ms Dowding said it was the "best opportunity" for change.
"It has been 17 years with Nola Marino," she said.
"I really respect her and what she's done for the community but I think this is the moment to have that change.
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"I think that having [candidates for the] teals, Greens, Liberal, Labor — that is healthy democracy."
Both major parties have made significant funding promises for the region, including the Liberal Party's $16 million dollar plan for a new terminal at the Busselton Margaret River Airport and Labor's promise for a new Medicare mental health centre.
What are the chances?
More than 100 independents are
While it would be a "big ask" to expect a seat like Forrest to change hands, James Cook University adjunct associate professor Maxine Newlands said the electorate was vulnerable.
"I think it will be competitive but the fact that [the margin] has reduced down over a fairly short period of time makes that seat vulnerable,"
she said.
There was a big swing against Nola Marino and the Liberal party at the last federal election.
While critics of independents and minor parties warn about the danger of a minority government, Dr Newlands said that was only one way of looking at it.
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"From a position of traditional democracy, it's a good thing because the more voices, the more ideas," she said.
"But it can slow things down, it can cause tension and it can even cause alliances and vote blocking and things like that.
Maxine Newlands says seats like Forrest are "vulnerable" because of the tight margin.
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ABC News: David Sciasci
)
"It can mean that the system struggles to get policy through."
Candidates from the Nationals, the Greens, One Nation, the Legalise Cannabis Party and Trumpet of Patriots are also contesting the seat of Forrest.
A range of candidates are contesting the historically safe seat of Forrest.
(
ABC South West: Jacqueline Lynch
)
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