Who are we?
Voices for Nicholls is a grassroots movement of the Goulburn and Murray Valley heartlands, from the top of Melbourne’s growth corridor to the River Murray.
Voices for Nicholls is not a political party. Some of our members have lived here for generations and many have come from other places to make this region our home. We are healthcare workers, nurses, teachers, business owners, First Nations people, immigrants, farmers, tradies, veterans, volunteers, retirees and students. We are families, singles, young and old.
What brings us together?
We are brought together by our belief in democracy and our shared commitment to better federal government representation for all people to be treated with respect and have a say in the laws and policies that affect them.
The 15,000 sq km electorate of Nicholls takes in the cities of Shepparton and Echuca and towns including Kilmore, Broadford, Seymour, Avenel, Dookie, Cobram, Mooroopna, Yarrawonga, Kyabram, Tatura, Numurkah, Rushworth and Nathalia. Health, construction, agriculture and manufacturing are the biggest employers in the region. Agriculture is a major contributor to the national economy and overseas trade. Nicholls is a national foodbowl, a major food growing and processing area and one of the most resilient farming areas in Australia. A lively tourism industry is based around the natural beauty of the Murray and Goulburn Rivers, ranges and alps, arts and cultural festivals, wine and food production. Nicholls is a wonderful place to live and raise a family.
Shepparton was recently named as the best city in the country to be an entrepreneur. The city is a diverse, vibrant community with over thirty nationalities speaking more than fifty languages.
However the region is not without its challenges, exacerbated by the decades of political neglect that comes with being a safe seat. The challenges we face, along with the rising cost of living, include:
- a rapidly growing population in the growth corridor projected to increase by 255% by 2041
- an overstretched health sector dealing with chronic staff shortages and burnout
- rapid expansion in education without staff to support the demand, and limited tertiary educational opportunities for our young people
- increase in serious weather events, particularly floods and fires
- ongoing pressure on the natural environment
We believe Nicholls needs a representative in parliament who will represent the best interests of our neighbourhoods and country communities, with the power to meet these challenges.
Why an independent candidate?
An independent candidate has the power to promote specific policies identified within the electorate and is not controlled by party politics.
We can do this. In 2022 Rob Priestly’s campaign saw Nicholls move from an historically safe conservative seat to a marginal electorate, with a margin of 2.5%.
