Tucked in the inner south west suburbs of Sydney is the electorate of Hughes. It sprawls from Holsworthy and Wattle Grove in the west, all the way to Sutherland in the south. It’s a seat that’s been held for over a decade by incumbent Craig Kelly. However in 2022, the race to the finish line for the Hughes seat went a little unnoticed in the grand scheme of all 151 Australian electorates, even though the mix of candidates was more much interesting this time around - for the locals, at least.

Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, Mr. Kelly has been a rampant vocal against vaccine mandates, and even before that, he was outspoken against climate change, embarrassingly so particularly on a number of European television interviews. Because of this ignorance, Mr. Kelly left the Liberal Party and transitioned to Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party, stopping by as an independent on the way. 

In the lead up to the 2022 Australian Federal Election, a number of viable candidates contested to take the seat of Hughes out from under his feet. Though it is considered a safe Liberal seat, with a margin of 9.9% according to the ABC, it was an invigorating race to watch, especially for those interested in politics within Hughes.

Along with Mr. Kelly for the UAP, Hughes saw candidates from both the two major parties, along with those representing minor parties such as The Greens and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party (which also saw one of the infamous ‘ghost’ candidates). However what made this election unlike any other for the southern-Sydney electorate was its options for an Independent. 

Georgia Steele was one of two Independents vying for the seat, and her campaign was the first time Hughes residents saw a larger and more prominent Independent effort.

“We feel ignored and neglected in this electorate,” said Mrs. Steele, “I decided to run as an Independent because I really consider that the two-party system in this country is starting to fail us. I didn’t see myself as having a particular ‘home’ among any of the parties…and I thought being an Independent really is the way you can consult properly with your community, vote in their interests, and not be tied to any other interests.”

A portion of Mrs. Steele’s funding came from the Climate 200 organisation, which has received over 11,000 individual donations across Australia, aiming to re-direct that money to pro-climate Independent candidates, rather than the two major parties.

“I wouldn’t say that I’m ‘backed’ by Climate 200,” assured Ms. Steele, “I’m very lucky to have received those donations, but I have also received donations from so many people in the community. Over $300,000 I’ve managed to raise from individuals. I’m not taking donations from corporations as I consider that to be a little too opaque.”

“As to what impact any donation on the floor of parliament if I’m elected, there is absolutely nothing. I would never take any donation from a person, organisation or corporation if there were any strings attached, whatsoever. That is the essence of being an independent. Being able to properly represent the community, with no strings attached.”

- Independent Georgia Steele on her Climate 200 funding.

In the shadow of Ms. Steele is the grassroots and community funded campaign for Linda Seymour, the other independent candidate running for Hughes. Ms. Seymour had worked with the ‘We Are Hughes’ group, who formed in frustration with how Mr. Kelly had previously been representing the area.

“So the way Hughes has been represented over the past few years hasn’t sat well with many people…my frustration with how we were represented was mirrored right across all voting districts. So myself and like-minded people set out to find out what it was we had in common and what we could do about genuine representation in Hughes.”

“But Hughes is a mini-series in the making, can I tell you. We have Craig Kelly who is advertising everywhere. We have a Liberal candidate who had their own internal stout. We have a Labor candidate who came late because their initial candidate had issues with Section 44 and dual citizenship. We have another independent who is here with lots of money and marketing. You have me who is grassroots. And last but not least - who cannot be forgotten - is the One Nation candidate who nobody knows, and for me, bears my name. Hughes is officially bonkers.”

- Linda Seymour on the assortment of Hughes candidates.

Nevertheless, as Democracy permits, the voice of the people of Hughes are the only ones that really matter come election day. I spoke to a number of Hughes locals, who’s diverse opinions allow a glimpse into what Hughes residents were thinking.

“I think in our area we need somebody more progressive,” said Tara, a University of Wollongong student who resides in Sutherland, “I think, for instance, Craig Kelly will set us back decades. I don’t see a future for myself in this electorate if he gets elected. He’s very backwards and too conservative for my generation.”

“I’ll be honest, I would classify myself as a swing voter,” mentioned Karina, a mother of three and Holsworthy resident, “I don’t really align with one party or another. In fact I normally always make my decision at the polling booth. I try to have an open mind and to listen to what’s going on from all sides.”

“I’m not at all up to date,” said Reid, an Engadine local, “I’m not very informed when it has anything to do with this electorate, but I don’t know if thats my fault or anything else…there’s a billion posters on every corner, but I’ve been too wrapped up in my own things to put my time in figuring it all out, as of yet” 

“In general, I don’t really like politics, I think all of them are corrupt.” declared Emma, a third year Nursing student who lives in Menai, “I don’t think anybody is the ‘right’ answer. So no matter who you choose, I think it doesn’t really end up in the direction you want in the long run, cause I personally believe that all of the candidates are in it just to get to the next term.”

In light of these opinions, Election Day came swiftly for Hughes on the 21st of May, whereby the 107,364 eligible voters assembled at the polling booth to cast their vote for who would be their representative in parliament for the next three years.

With little surprise, Liberal candidate Jenny Ware returned the seat of Hughes back to the Liberal party, ousting Mr. Kelly and the UAP. As of the current count, she took 57.1% of the preference count and 43.8% of first preferences. She was followed behind by Labor candidate Riley Campbell who, after preferences, fell by over 10,000 votes behind Ms. Ware

- Voting Results from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC)

Overall, many inner city Liberal safe seats fell to candidates for The Greens and Climate 200 funded ‘Teal’ Independents, forming a larger-than-usual cross bench. This was due to the many citizens in these areas opting for an MP who would prioritise their interests as an electorate, especially surrounding key topics such as swifter action on climate change and integrity in politics.

Though Hughes had the option of Ms. Steele, the electorate ‘stuck to its gut’ and opted for the Liberal party’s agenda on a “Stronger Economy. Stronger Future”.

However, this isn’t to say this was a loss for the Labor party overall. The Labor party won the 2022 Federal Election, eventually winning the 76 seats needed to form a slim-majority government, headed by, of course, a new Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. 

As of the current count by the AEC, the Liberal party only won 57 seats (including, of course, the electorate under discussion), and so they will form an opposition to the Labor government, lead by, only until recently, former Immigration Minister, Peter Dutton. Jenny Ware - who declined an interview - will partake in this opposition, representing Hughes under Mr. Dutton, until Hughes once again heads to the polls in 2025.