The Hon Bob Katter MP, the Member for Kennedy, has endorsed independent MP Michelle Milthorpe for the upcoming Farrer By-Election.

“We must rescue Australia and the leadership must come from rural Australia,” Mr Katter said.

“The real leadership in this country has always come from rural Australia.”

Of Mrs Milthorpe, Mr Katter said: “Michelle’s taken some hard hits and she’s a tough operator, and she’s very knowledgeable.”

“The last 25 years in Parliament have been very close, and normally things are very close. So we don’t need 20 seats, the independents need probably eight or nine seats, but 12 would certainly control most of the Parliaments we’ve had over the past 25 years. That’s why I’m down here.”

Mrs Milthorpe, who ran in the last federal election and came second to the Liberal Party’s Sussan Ley, with a primary vote of 20 percent, said:

“Bob Katter is a champion for his community and a fighter for regional Australia. We need more people in Parliament who can challenge the system and deliver serious change for regional Australia. I thank Mr Katter for his endorsement.”

She added: “Farrer has been forgotten for too long. Our area has given a lot to this country, and we’re not asking for much in return. We need a Royal Commission into Water and a new hospital on a new site in Albury.”

The Farrer by-election is on 9 May.

The declared candidates at time of publication are David Farley for One Nation, Brad Robertson for the Nationals, Raissa Butkowski for the Liberal Party, Michelle Milthorpe as an independent, Richard Hendrie for the Greens and Rebecca Scriven for Family First.

This article appeared on Back Country Bulletin on 30 March 2026.