As Tasmania heads to the polls, voters in Lyons will choose from a diverse field of candidates vying to represent them in the state’s largest electorate. From seasoned political figures to fresh contenders, each brings their own vision for the region. Here’s a quick look at candidates standing in Lyons in the 2025 federal election.
Lyons 2025 Candidate Poll
- Rebecca White (Labor)
A former state opposition leader and sitting Member for Lyons, Rebecca White is campaigning on experience and a Labor platform focused on health, education, and cost-of-living relief. She’s a familiar face in Tasmanian politics with a decade in Parliament. Read our article here. - Susie Bower (Liberal)
Susie Bower, the Liberal candidate, is running on local economic development and regional infrastructure. She’s known for her work in tourism and business and is aiming to strengthen the party’s presence in the seat. Read our article here. - Alistair Allan (Greens)
Alistair Allan is representing the Tasmanian Greens with a campaign centred on climate action, housing affordability, and community-led planning. A younger candidate, he brings a progressive platform to the race. Read our article here. - Angela Offord (Independent)
A local Launceston vet, Angela Offord is an independent candidate for Lyons. She’s running on a practical, no-nonsense approach with a focus on cost of living, health and aged care services, and restoring trust in politics. Read our article here. - Michael Phibbs (Citizens Party). Read more on the party’s website.
- Sarah Graham (Trumpet of Patriots). Read more on the party’s website.
- Shaun Broadby (One Nation). Read more on the party’s website.
- Carlo Di Falco (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers). Read more on the party’s website.
To help voters make an informed choice, The North Coast Post put the same ten questions to candidates standing for Lyons in the 2025 federal election. Covering key issues such as the economy, healthcare, housing, telecommunications, education, and defence, the questions were designed to test both policy depth and local relevance. From their priorities for regional Tasmania to how they’ll tackle the rising cost of living, here’s how each candidate responded.
Jump to
| Cost of living | Health and Aged Care | Small Business | Housing | Telecommunications |
| Economy | Defence | Education | Community | Summary |
Cost of Living
WHITE — LABOR
Labor will give Tasmanian taxpayers another tax cut next year and the year after, on top of last year’s tax cuts.
We’ll also take another $150 off power bills for households and small businesses.
The cost of living is Labor’s top priority. We’ll keep working to help Australians get ahead.
BOWER — LIBERAL
The Coalition will deliver immediate cost-of-living relief by halving the fuel excise for 12 months, which will save families around $1,500 per year. We also have a long-term plan to tackle inflation by reducing wasteful spending, supporting small business and delivering cheaper energy.
ALLAN — GREENS
The Greens will address the cost of living crisis by fighting to get dental and mental health into Medicare, make supermarket price gouging illegal and break up the duopoly, cap rent increases, regulate banks, provide free childcare, and erase student debt while restoring free TAFE and uni.
INDEPENDENT — OFFORD
Wages and income have not kept pace with rising prices and inflation is still high. I support initiatives that can ease the rising cost of living pressures. For example energy bill relief, reduced prescription medicines, reintroduction of bulk billing, more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, childcare subsidies, grocery price gouging.
Health and Aged Care
WHITE — LABOR
Labor is rebuilding Medicare so everyone can see their GP for free.
A re-elected Albanese government will open three more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in Tasmania, and we’ll support your GP to offer bulk billing to everyone.
And we’ll make medicine cheaper, with $25 the most you’ll pay per PBS script.
BOWER — LIBERAL
All Australians are entitled to access quality healthcare. No matter where you live, you deserve to get the care you need. I was proud to lead the charge to secure funding for the Sorell Urgent Care Clinic, and I will continue to secure investments like this for our community.
ALLAN — GREENS
In a country like Australia, everyone should have access to world-class health services. The Greens are working to establish 1,000 free clinics that offer GP, dental, and mental health care. We will also fight to reduce PBS medicine costs, make ADHD and autism assessments free under Medicare, and invest $30.6 billion in local public hospitals.
INDEPENDENT — OFFORD
I am passionate about measures that will attract and retain doctors in regional areas, shorten waiting times in ED, make aged care services easier to access and increase the number of Medicare subsidised mental health services. We need to have a big conversation about reform of the whole health system in Tasmania.
Small Business
WHITE — LABOR
Labor will extend energy bill relief with around one million eligible businesses receiving rebates.
We will also provide $7.1 million to strengthen the ACCC’s enforcement of the Franchising Code of Conduct and progress work to extend Unfair Trading Practice protections to small businesses.
BOWER — LIBERAL
Small businesses are the engine-room of the economy in regional Tasmania. The Coalition believes small businesses should prosper so we see real growth in crucial industries. That is why we will be increasing the Instant Asset Write-office to $30,000 and make it permanent, unlike Labor who will cut it to $1,000.
ALLAN — GREENS
While major parties prioritise the corporate profits of billionaires, the Greens will support small businesses in these tough economic times. We’re pushing to establish a small business incubator with grants for startups and cooperatives, and extend the $20,000 instant asset write-off and Small Business Energy Incentive Scheme until July 2026.
INDEPENDENT — OFFORD
I will promote initiatives ensuring fair support, including grants and training, to empower local businesses.
Housing
WHITE — LABOR
Labor is helping first home buyers with deposits of 5% or less and increasing rent assistance by 45%.
We’ll also build 1.2 million homes – including 55,000 social and affordable homes – cut red tape, train more tradies with free TAFE and support construction apprentices with a new $10,000 payment.
BOWER — LIBERAL
To address Labor’s housing crisis the Coalition will fight inflation to take pressure off interest rates and rents, and invest $5bn to deliver essential infrastructure to unlock new housing development. I also recently announced $3.8m for improvements to Hadspen’s Bartley Street intersection, which deliver 300 homes for the area.
ALLAN — GREENS
The Greens are fighting for renters and first home buyers, who are locked out of the housing market by excessive government tax handouts to wealthy property investors. While the major parties fuel the housing crisis, the Greens, independent from corporate donations, will tackle it with real reform to ensure everyone has secure, affordable housing.
INDEPENDENT — OFFORD
I aim to address housing availability affordability by advocating for sustainable developments: we need to build more housing and the critical infrastructure required to make them liveable and to foster healthy communities, assistance for first home buyers and rental caps as long as any measures are not inflationary.
Telecommunications
WHITE — LABOR
The Albanese Government’s world-first mobile phone reform will make the problem of Tasmania’s mobile black spots a thing of the past.
Labor will expand Triple Zero access, expand outdoor voice and SMS coverage into existing mobile black spots and improve the availability of mobile signals during disasters and power outages.
BOWER — LIBERAL
This is a major issue across Lyons. For example, the Tasman Peninsula, where I attended a public meeting to discuss the issue. I understand this is not isolated to the Tasman but right across the electorate and I will have more to say on this matter later in the campaign.
ALLAN — GREENS
I know all too well how bad our internet and mobile phone coverage can be in Lyons. The Greens will work to ensure affordable, high-quality services for all to bridge the digital divide. This includes re-establishing a $3 billion Communications Fund to improve connectivity in regional, rural, and remote areas.
INDEPENDENT — OFFORD
I will push for improved infrastructure to ensure reliable connectivity. We all deserve to be able to live, study, work and play safely. Connectivity and mobile phone coverage remain problematic in many areas of Tasmania affecting liveability and safety.
Economy
WHITE — LABOR
Australia’s economy is turning the corner under Labor.
In just three years, inflation’s coming down, wages are moving again and more than 1 million jobs created.
Labor will build on this by helping with the cost of living, strengthening Medicare, growing our economy and building a future made in Australia.
BOWER — LIBERAL
Tasmanians work hard and deserve a better standard of living, so they have confidence that they can afford the essentials. The Coalition will manage the Budget in a responsible way, rein in Labor’s wasteful spending, and reduce red and green tape to get out of the way of true wealth-generators like small businesses.
ALLAN — GREENS
I believe our economy should work for people, not corporations. If elected, I’ll push for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations to pay their fair share, tackle price gouging, and invest in services for everyday people. Together, we’ll build a fairer economy with affordable housing, healthcare, and secure incomes for everyone.
INDEPENDENT — OFFORD
I will work to stimulate economic growth through innovation, job creation, and fostering local industries. I will support continual road improvement to handle heavy transport and safety. I support long overdue changes to the Freight Equalisation Scheme. I support enhanced Biosecurity measures.
Defence
WHITE — LABOR
At a time of global uncertainty, the Albanese Government is keeping Australians safe and securing our nation’s future.
Labor is investing an additional $50.3 billion into the Australian Defence Force and bringing forward $1 billion of investment to enable Defence to acquire capabilities faster and deliver projects on time.
BOWER — LIBERAL
Keeping all Australian’s safe is a key priority for the Coalition. Tasmanians across Lyons have identified community safety as a key issue of concern. A Coalition Government will keep Australians safe by increasing investment in defence and working closely with State and Territory law enforcement agencies to protect our communities.
ALLAN — GREENS
For years, Labor and the Liberals have prioritised wasteful military spending. The Greens have a plan to redirect funds from nuclear submarines to address urgent risks like climate change and build trust with Pacific neighbours. We’ll reform defence spending, increase transparency, and promote peace by prioritising security for people, not military escalation.
INDEPENDENT — OFFORD
I support more investment in defence initiatives especially given recent international events and world order changes. I will advocate for programs that give due recognition to veterans’ service and meet their needs.
Education
WHITE — LABOR
The Albanese Government will build on its significant education reform agenda by investing to help families and support students and teachers.
Labor will cut the cost for families of early education and care, deliver full and fair public school funding and cut student debt by a further 20 per cent.
BOWER — LIBERAL
I believe in the power of a good education. A Coalition Government will match the funding commitments of the current Government to ensure our children have the best possible experience at school. We will get students back to the basics of reading, writing, maths and science, and stop radical agendas.
ALLAN — GREENS
Every child deserves free, world-class education from early childhood to TAFE and university. The Greens are pushing to fully fund public schools, provide high-quality free early education, wipe student debt, and restore free uni and TAFE. We’ll fund this by taxing billionaires and big corporations, ensuring education for all.
INDEPENDENT — OFFORD
I will prioritise funding for our public schools, enhancing resources and support for students and educators alike and to take action on recommendations in the many reports on investigations into problems in our education system in Tasmania. I support the continuation of Free TAFE.
Community
WHITE — LABOR
As well as working to support communities throughout Australia with cost-of-living relief, tax cuts and rebuilding Medicare, the Albanese Government is strengthening community sector organisations with Australia’s first Community Sector Grants Engagement Framework.
The national framework will help the sector better plan for service delivery, workforce development and the future.
BOWER — LIBERAL
A Coalition Government will support youth, community, multicultural and volunteer groups. I will ensure that local groups get the funding they need to start projects that they have been waiting for so long to deliver, because I believe that the health of local communities depends on local civic organisations.
ALLAN — GREENS
Every child deserves free, world-class education from early childhood to TAFE and university. The Greens are pushing to fully fund public schools, provide high-quality free early education, wipe student debt, and restore free uni and TAFE. We’ll fund this by taxing billionaires and big corporations, ensuring education for all.
INDEPENDENT — OFFORD
I will prioritise funding for our public schools, enhancing resources and support for students and educators alike and to take action on recommendations in the many reports on investigations into problems in our education system in Tasmania. I support the continuation of Free TAFE.
Summary
WHITE — LABOR
Under Labor, Australia’s economy is on the up, inflation is coming down, Australians have tax cuts and energy bill relief and Medicare is being rebuilt to give everyone health care.
A re-elected Albanese Government will build on these foundations, build a stronger future and give everyone the chance to thrive.
BOWER — LIBERAL
People in Lyons are doing it tough. With pressure from cost of living, a lack of GPs and increased crime, Lyons needs a strong voice. Our community needs a local representative who understands the needs of everyday people, and with your support, I will deliver for you.
ALLAN — GREENS
If you’re worried about the cost of living, housing or climate crisis, you’re not alone. But we can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result. If you want positive change, the first step is to vote for it. Vote Greens this election.
INDEPENDENT — OFFORD
As an independent I am not aligned with a political party and won’t be influenced by party ideology, politics or vested interests.
In place of opinion and policy promises I have values and priority issues, identified by the community, that I would advocate for on your behalf.
People not politics
