The federal election is now just over a fortnight away. Labor and the Coalition vie for domination, David Pocock is expected to retain his Senate seat, and the Greens hope to influence a minority government. Meanwhile, minor parties and independents contest the seats, promising fresh representation, new ideas, or simply a check on the major parties. Below is a guide to who is running and what they stand for, from climate and housing to animal welfare and faith-based education. Wherever your preferences may fall, the democratic process begins with knowing who is on the ballot.

Labor

Labor holds all three lower house seats in the ACT and is seeking re-election in Bean, Canberra and Fenner. Policies include continuing the transition to renewables, strengthening the economy, and investing in Medicare, education and cost-of-living relief, as well as support for first-home buyers, cheaper energy, and tighter rules on supermarket pricing.

Senate: Senator Katy Gallagher returns as the lead candidate. Former Chief Minister for the ACT (2011–14), Katy Gallagher was elected to the Senate in 2015. She is a high-profile figure in federal Labor: Minister for Women, Government Services, Finance, and the Public Service. She pitches herself as a safe pair of hands on economic accountability and integrity.

Janaline Oh, second on the ticket, is a former diplomat aligned with Labor’s Environment Action Network.

Bean: David Smith MP was elected to the House of Representatives in 2019 after briefly serving in the Senate. A long-time public and community sector advocate, Smith is currently Government Whip. He wants education to be fair, strengthen Medicare, maintain workplace rights, and rebuild trust and integrity in government.

Canberra: Alicia Payne MP, elected in 2019, chairs the committee on the National Capital and External Territories, and has focused on social justice, climate change, economics and the NDIS.

Fenner: Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, Treasury and Employment, has served in politics since 2010. A former ANU economics professor, he is one of Labor’s leading policy thinkers and authors, known for his work on inequality, global engagement, competition reform, and community-building. He also hosts The Good Life podcast.

David Pocock

Senate: Senator David Pocock, a former Wallabies (rugby) captain turned climate advocate, is recontesting after his historic 2022 win made him the ACT’s first Independent senator, ousting Liberal senator Zed Seselja.

Hannah Vardy, his running mate, is a law and climate science student.

Senator Pocock’s platform combines local advocacy with a focus on national reform. He supports action on climate change, investment in affordable housing, improvements to health and aged care, and stronger political integrity laws.

Liberals

The Liberal Party is contesting all three ACT lower house seats and fielding two Senate candidates. It frames Labor’s dominance in the ACT as neglectful, and argue that safe-seat complacency has left Canberrans without a real voice in federal decision-making. Its platform focuses on lowering inflation, cutting red tape for small business, making energy more affordable through a mix of renewables, gas and nuclear, helping Australians (particularly first-home buyers) to enter the housing market, community safety, strengthening national security, improving online safety for children; and addressing GP shortages.

Senate: Jacob Vadakkedathu is a policy and budget analyst who moved to Canberra from India in the 1980s. Now CEO of a local consulting firm, he advocates for a capable, efficiently-run government and fairer federal investment in Canberra. His platform emphasises economic opportunity, personal freedom, and strong, sustainable communities.

Hayune Lee, a public servant with a background in hospitality, emphasises efficient administration, economic prudence, and infrastructure development.

Bean: David Lamerton is a former army officer who moved to Canberra more than a decade ago. He is campaigning on household pressures, safe communities and borders, and more affordable homes and cheaper energy.

Canberra: Will Roche is the youngest of the three candidates, and presents himself as a fresh voice. He claims that Canberra has been “forgotten” and taken for granted, pointing to rising costs, housing affordability, and the need for political renewal.

Fenner: Bola Olatunbosun, a community worker, migrated from Nigeria to Canberra to study. Her campaign focuses on family, community, and personal responsibility, helping the disadvantaged, and local infrastructure, including a hospital.

Greens

The Greens are fielding candidates in all three ACT House of Representatives seats and two Senate positions, running on a progressive platform focused on climate action, housing reform, healthcare and the environment. The party argues that both Labor and the Coalition have failed to address the scale of current challenges. They argue that the election is a once-in-a-generation chance to fight for change, “to keep Dutton out and get Labor to act by putting more Greens MPs in parliament”.

Senate: Gender equality advocate Christina Hobbs brings international experience as an economist and food security expert with the United Nations and the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Jo Rocke is an educator, public housing resident and community advocate.

Bean: Sam Carter is a Paralympian and disability advocate, calling for policies that prioritise renters, marginalised groups, and those struggling with the cost of living and put fairness and equality ahead of corporate interests.

Canberra: Greens lead candidate Isabel Mudford is a PhD Student in sociology at ANU, a community worker, and an LGBTIQA+ advocate. Her campaign focuses on ending fossil fuel expansion, taxing corporations to fund necessary services, addressing the housing crisis, and raising social support payments. She frames the Greens as the party best aligned with Canberra’s progressive values.

Fenner: Dani Hunterford is a not-for-profit worker and renter.

Independents

Bean: Jessie Price is a midwife, former journalist, and community advocate, running as a grassroots independent. Her campaign grew out of the “Voices of Bean” movement. Her experiences as a frontline health worker during the 2019 bushfires inspired her to enter politics and to advocate for systemic change and community-led politics. Her platform includes cost of living, climate action (electrifying Bean), housing affordability, higher income support payments, and restoring integrity to government. She positions herself as a representative who remains engaged with the electorate beyond election season, and who brings a participatory, locally accountable approach to federal politics.

Canberra: Claire Miles is a long-serving Royal Australian Air Force officer and health policy expert. She promises to bring experience in strategic policy, public health, and international service. She positions herself as a pragmatic centrist focused on practical solutions rather than on party politics. Motivated by concerns her own children raised about their future, she wants climate action, affordable housing, and to restore trust in government — a future that is sustainable, fair, and offers opportunity for the next generation. She argues that in a minority government, Canberra could hold the balance of power, giving the electorate more influence in parliament.

Animal Justice Party

The Animal Justice Party is Australia’s only political party solely focused on the rights and welfare of animals. Formed in response to growing public concern over the treatment of animals, it advocates for strong federal animal welfare laws, climate action, and protection for native species. Policies include a federal animal protection agency, a full ban on live exports, and affordable veterinary care. Beyond animals, they propose the Very Fast Train for Canberra, affordable housing, and better mental health services.

Senate: Lead candidate Robyn Soxsmith is a long-time animal rights and social justice advocate and former public servant.

Bean: Dr Walter Kudrycz taught history, philosophy and animal ethics at the ANU and believes animals’ autonomy and sentience should be recognised in law.

Canberra: Teresa McTaggart has a background in management, IT, policy, cyber security and small business in both the public sector and private sector.

Family First Party

Family First positions itself as a defender of Judeo-Christian ethics and wants to restore Australia by restoring the primacy of the family in public policy.

Fenner: Elizabeth Kikkert is a former Member of the Legislative Assembly and long-time advocate for families and faith-based values. As an MLA, she focused on affordable living, parental rights, and child safety. Her policies include affordable and reliable energy; protecting faith-based education; and opposing genderfluid concepts in schools and clinics.

HEART Party

The HEART Party — standing for Health Environment Accountability Rights Transparency, formerly known as the Informed Medical Options Party — positions itself as a defender of medical freedom, personal choice, and small government. It opposes vaccine mandates and fluoridation, and calls for Royal Commissions into the COVID response and vaccine harm; and supports legislation to prevent medical coercion.

Senate: Elise Searson Prakash is a journalist, photographer, and social entrepreneur who believes politics need more heart, honesty, and leaders who listen. Martin Brown joins her on the HEART ticket.

Canberra: Mary-Jane Liddicoat is a former senior public servant, diplomat, entrepreneur, author and publisher. She has run award-winning small businesses and organised protest movements during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Freedom Day, Millions March, and Convoy to Canberra.

Sustainable Australia Party

The Sustainable Australia Party presents itself as a centrist, science and evidence-based alternative to traditional politics, aiming to “de-corrupt” the system and prioritise long-term environmental and social sustainability, as a result of more stable population growth. Policy positions include a universal basic income ($500 per week) and addressing housing affordability.

Senate: Lead candidate James Holgate is a recruitment consultant and community radio president who has worked internationally. He believes growth must be redefined to mean an economy that is not based on an endless model of consumption, loss of natural habitat, and overdevelopment.

John Haydon is a former public servant with degrees in economics and business administration. He is concerned about the economic impacts of population growth and property speculation.