Raissa Butkowski, the Liberal Party candidate for the federal seat of Farrer, expressed gratitude for her campaign experience after losing the election.
The loss represents a significant shift in regional politics for southern New South Wales. The Liberal Party had held the seat of Farrer for more than 25 years [1], making the transition to a One Nation representative a notable departure from decades of stability.
Butkowski spoke about the personal impact of the race and her feelings regarding the outcome. "I’m incredibly grateful for the experience," Butkowski said. She described the process as the best experience of her life and said, "I wouldn’t change a thing."
The contest for the regional electorate became a focal point of the Australian federal election held on May 21, 2022 [2]. The race was closely watched as One Nation sought to secure its first lower-house seat [3] — a goal that would mark a historic entry for the party into the House of Representatives.
Throughout the campaign, the Liberal Party remained defiant about its chances of retaining the seat. However, the final results saw the One Nation candidate successfully capture the electorate, ending the long-term Liberal hold on the region [1].
Butkowski's reflections come as part of a broader look at the campaign's trajectory in southern New South Wales. Despite the defeat, she emphasized the value of the journey, and the engagement with voters during the election cycle.
“"I’m incredibly grateful for the experience."”
The loss of the Farrer seat highlights a vulnerability for the Liberal Party in regional Australia, where long-term strongholds are increasingly susceptible to challengers from right-wing populist parties like One Nation. By capturing its first lower-house seat, One Nation has demonstrated an ability to disrupt established party dominance in regional electorates.
