On a crisp morning at Deloraine’s train park, Casey Farrell is all smiles. As the newly appointed Member for Lyons, Farrell’s political journey reflects a deep-rooted connection to Tasmania and a resolve to amplify the voices of its regional communities.
“I’ve come in after Rebecca White has been elected to the Federal Parliament,” Farrell says.
Farrell’s entry into politics was shaped by years of quiet dedication. “I’ve been involved in politics and with the Labor Party probably since about my early twenties,” he explains. “At the time it was never my intention to actually run. I was really keen to be involved with my representatives.”
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A self-described technology enthusiast, Farrell built a career in the technology sector before launching his own business, spurred by a desire to prove that Tasmania could be a global player without needing to export its talent.
“About six years into that job, I had a conversation with my manager… and he said that they’re (opportunities are) just not here. If you want to advance in your career, you have to go somewhere else,” Farrell recounts. “And I really didn’t like being told that. And so I resigned from that job, started my own business.”
Now in Parliament, Farrell hopes to bring that same belief in local potential to statewide policy. “What I see as the opportunity for government in Tasmania is to really give a leg up to Tasmanians who are doing extraordinary things.”
Farrell’s ascent followed the resignation of Rebecca White, triggering a recount under the Hare-Clark electoral system. “It’s quite complex, the maths around how that all works,” he says, explaining how votes from the previous election were redistributed. “I was in second place almost the entire way through… then I went from third place into first place.”
He was elected at 7:30pm on his daughter’s birthday. “The phone started ringing… I put the phone down and sang Happy Birthday.”
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Representing a sprawling and diverse electorate, Farrell is attuned to its distinct political makeup. “Lyons is fantastic as an electorate for anyone that’s a bit of a politics or voting nerd… every area of Lyons has local issues,” he notes. “An entire town can turn the way they vote on a single issue.”
That sense of attentiveness defines Farrell’s early days in office. “I want to represent it in the best way that I possibly can… I will travel wherever I need to travel in order to make sure that I’m doing the best in representing those people.”
Farrell is clear-eyed about the foundational challenges confronting Tasmanians. Healthcare and education top his priorities. “People need to have a health system that they can rely upon,” he says, adding that rural access remains a concern. “Similarly, public safety around policing… the resources that are provided by government aren’t giving people the confidence,” he says.
Education, too, is a theme of reform. “We still have an education system that is geared around this idea that people will complete their formal education and go into a job and do that job for 40, 50, 60 years,” he says. “The reality now is that’s not the case.”
Parliament itself has been a learning curve. “It is designed around the idea that anyone can be a member of Parliament,” he says, recalling the tradition of a first speech followed by handshakes across party lines. “That was a really nice moment.”
Asked to name key federal issues, Farrell cited healthcare and cost of living. “People came around to trust the Lyons government more with healthcare,” he says, noting that affordability and access remain critical.
As for favourite corners of the Meander Valley, Farrell’s answer comes with a story. “There’s a section of the road down here in Deloraine where the tree canopy comes across… my kids got so excited… they called it a tree tunnel.” The moment reminded his children of a scene from the beloved Japanese film My Neighbour Totoro, where wide-eyed siblings marvel at a similar leafy arch. “I think on that day we probably drove up and down, five or six times on the road,” he says. The simple magic of sunlight streaming through interlaced branches left an impression that lingers.
For Farrell, moments like those with his children reflect a political style shaped by community, curiosity and optimism. Having only entered Parliament a few months ago, he now faces the prospect of a state election. It is a whirlwind introduction to public life that underscores just how swiftly the pace can change.
