HEART Party candidate for Canberra Mary-Jane Liddicoat submitted this opinion piece. Canberra Daily has contacted Labor for a response.

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.

As voters start to examine their ballot papers and how-to-vote cards ahead of the 3 May federal election, one curious trend has caught the eye of politically engaged Canberrans: the HEART Party is being placed dead last on Labor’s official how-to-vote cards.

That’s right — last. Below fringe parties. Below single-issue campaigns. Even below candidates whose values appear to have little in common with Labor’s own progressive base.

So what’s going on?

The HEART Party, a relatively new player in the political landscape, stands for Health, Environment, Accountability, Rights and Transparency. It pitches itself as a movement committed to rebuilding trust in politics, advocating for stronger public health systems, environmental action, and more open, accountable government.

None of that sounds especially controversial — especially in a city like Canberra.

Here in the capital, we live in a place that values public institutions. We understand the importance of good governance. We expect transparency. And yet, local frustrations are growing: health outcomes are worsening, mental health services are stretched, and wait times at Canberra Hospital have become a serious concern for many residents.

Add to that strong public support for environmental protections — particularly among younger voters — and it’s clear that the HEART Party’s messaging could resonate with some Canberrans.

So why is Labor so determined to place them last?

It’s hard to say for sure. Political preference deals are rarely transparent. But what’s unusual here is that the HEART Party’s core values — on the surface — don’t appear radically opposed to those of a party like Labor. Both claim to care about health, the environment, fairness, and social equity.

Could it be that the HEART Party’s presence is seen as a symbolic threat? A reminder that some voters feel let down or politically homeless? That many Australians are increasingly looking for alternatives outside the traditional major-party divide?

While some critics dismiss smaller or newer parties as disruptive or naïve, others argue that these movements often shine a spotlight on issues being overlooked — offering fresh ideas, or at least asking uncomfortable questions that the big parties sometimes avoid.

In safe seats like Canberra, minor parties and true independents rarely win. But they do play a role in shaping the political conversation. And that, perhaps, is where the discomfort lies.

If nothing else, Labor’s decision to place HEART last may raise more questions than it answers. Is it strategic politics as usual? Or a defensive move against emerging grassroots voices?

As we head to the polls, maybe the most important question voters can ask isn’t “Who’s on top?” — but “Who’s being left out, and why?”

Because in a democracy, the best decisions are made not when we’re told what to think — but when we’re encouraged to think for ourselves.