Dr Angela Offord never imagined she would run for office. A veterinarian by profession, she spent 33 years caring for animals, including two decades advocating for veterinary professionals through the Australian Veterinary Association. But something changed.
“I have to say that it’s… almost like a calling now,” she said. “I haven’t had this feeling since I was a small child, and I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian.”
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Now, she is running as an independent candidate for the federal electorate of Lyons, driven by a desire for better governance, stronger integrity in politics, and tangible improvements in key policy areas like healthcare, education, and housing.
“I really loved good governance… and I don’t see a lot of good governance. I like integrity as well, and I’m not seeing a lot of that,” she said. “I realised that maybe I could achieve great outcomes… at the highest level, which is being in government.”
Offord first tested the political waters in last year’s state election and found herself drawn to the role. “I really love getting around the electorate as vast as it is, and meeting people and seeing how we live,” she said. “And I would love our politicians to behave better as well and have some more integrity.”
Campaigning has given Angela Offord a direct insight into the concerns of voters. While cost-of-living pressures and housing availability remain pressing issues, she was surprised by what emerged as a higher priority in conversations with residents.
“Often it is things to do with the health system,” she said, noting problems across the board, from paramedics and emergency department access to aged care and mental health services.
Another major concern is dissatisfaction with the two-party system. “There’s a growing awareness of independent incumbents and candidates,” she said. “When I first started, not many people understood what an independent candidate is… But there’s definitely a growing awareness, which is fabulous.”
Her own priorities reflect what she describes as a “One Health” approach, an interconnected view of human health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. She is particularly concerned about aged care, pointing to the challenges many Australians face in navigating the system.
“It’s impossible to navigate,” she said. “Health changes overnight on a dime… but people are on waiting lists for months, if not years. People are passing away before they get the help they need, and that’s not okay.”
Education is another key focus. “We have the lowest level of ATAR attainment in the country,” she said of Tasmania. “These are really long-term, longstanding, complicated issues… but we need to action that.”
While Angela Offord does not claim to be the best candidate for Lyons, she sees herself as offering a fresh perspective.
“I’m coming from… not a career politician background,” she said. “I’ve come into politics… later in life, but I’ve got lots of skills and experience that I could bring.”
Unlike candidates backed by major parties, Offord is running a grassroots campaign, personally delivering letters and meeting residents in their communities. “I would imagine I’m possibly the only candidate that’s tried to… literally visit every part of Lyons,” she said.
She has also prioritised engagement with local councils, meeting with mayors and general managers across the 12 local government areas within Lyons. “So I can understand what local issues may be and what kind of infrastructure is needed,” she said.
Offord believes strongly in the value of independent representation. “You’re independent by definition. You’re not aligned with a political party, and therefore you’re not beholden to that party’s ideology,” she said.
She admires fellow independent MP Andrew Wilkie and Liberal MP Bridget Archer for their integrity. “Bridget Archer does a fantastic job… she’s willing to cross the floor on issues that really matter to her,” Offord said.
One of her major frustrations with party politics is the influence of vested interests, particularly in areas like gambling reform. “We’ve had the opportunity to bring in strong reforms, but we backflip and backtrack because of pressure from vested interests, and that’s not okay.”
Although not born in Tasmania, Offord has lived in the state for 28 years and calls it home. Her favourite part of the Meander Valley? “It’s the environment. It’s a beautiful environment,” she said. “And the people that make up all the small towns… they’re lovely, close-knit communities.”
As she continues her campaign, Offord remains focused on what she sees as the fundamental responsibilities of government: health, education, and integrity. “We shouldn’t be talking about other things until we can address what is supposed to be basic service provision,” she said.
