Six candidates are chasing for the seat of Holt in the upcoming May Federal Election.
In the previous 2022 election, Labor’s Cassandra Fernando won with a margin of 7.1 per cent (notional post-redistribution) over the then-Liberal candidate.
The boundary of Holt was realigned last year, and it lost around 7,000 voters in Cranbourne North to Bruce.
All candidates were contacted for this questionnaire. Some did not respond.
The candidates will appear on the ballot paper in the following order:
Shane Foreman – Family First
Payal Tiwari – The Greens
Trevor Hammond – One Nation
Riley Aickin – Legalise Cannabis Party
Cassandra Fernando – Labor
Annette Samuel – Liberal
Payal Tiwari
(Greens)
Where do you live and how long have you lived there?
I live in Lyndhurst and have been here for 20 months.
Why did you choose to run for the seat of Holt?
I’m an engineer, a leader in tech and transformation, and a family violence advocate. When I moved here, I noticed that the area seemed to be falling behind in terms of essential services like schools and infrastructure. Even the train lines are infrequent and slow. I chose to move here to be close to my brother, who owns a home here, and because my father was receiving cancer treatment in the area. I’m running for the Greens to tax the big corporations and fund the essential services that people in Holt need.
Why did you choose to join your party?
Having personally experienced family violence, I saw the gaps in real support for prevention, crisis intervention, and long-term recovery, especially for people from migrant and disadvantaged backgrounds. This experience motivated me to become an advocate for family violence reform. I’ve worked on family violence policies at the state and national levels, but I realized that real change requires being in the spaces where decisions are made. I joined the Greens because of their strong policies, commitment to not accepting corporate donations, and because it gives me a platform where I have a voice, not just a party puppet role.
What is your number one policy to reduce the cost of living for the people of Holt?
My priority is affordable housing. The cost of living in Holt is increasing, and housing affordability is at the core of that issue. I support increasing the supply of affordable housing, improving public housing, and advocating for rent controls to protect renters from skyrocketing prices. I also support better access to public services like healthcare and education to reduce financial pressure on families.
Why are you the best candidate for Holt?
I bring practical, solutions-oriented experience as an engineer and leader in tech and transformation. Unlike career politicians, I’m focused on finding real, actionable solutions to the issues that matter most. My experience in policy development, particularly around family violence, Technology based transformation and my approach to tackling the challenges facing our community make me uniquely qualified to represent Holt.
Can you tell us about your life outside of work?
Outside of work, I’m an avid singer and dancer. I also dedicate a lot of my time to volunteering, especially in family violence advocacy, working to support survivors and create awareness about the issue.
What do you believe are the three biggest issues facing the Holt electorate?
• Cost of living
• Education (specifically improving public schools)
• Infrastructure development
• Job creation
• Investing in social services and health as preventative measures to tackle crime
What are your plans or policies to encourage local job creation and support businesses in Casey? What types of industries or sectors do you see as key in the area?
The lack of local employment has been an ongoing issue in the Holt electorate, with approximately 67 per cent of City of Casey residents commuting to jobs outside the municipality, according to the 2021 Census. Job creation is a priority for me. My plan includes not only supporting small businesses and fostering local industries such as clean energy, tech, and manufacturing but also creating part-time opportunities, especially for mothers and those looking for flexible work. For example, initiatives like providing food supplies to schools can create local employment while meeting the community’s needs. I believe in learning from successful models in other countries, rather than reinventing the wheel, to ensure we are creating sustainable, accessible jobs for everyone.
Riley Aickin
(LCP)
Where do you live and how long have you lived there?
I live in Newport, and have for the past 2 years, but spend most of my time in Cranbourne West for work.
Why did you choose to run for the seat of Holt?
I chose to run in the seat of Holt as it’s where I spend most of my time. I travel to Cranbourne West five days a week working for a local, onshore textile recycler. Holt needs change to drive investment and development of infrastructure, services and community engagement.
Why did you choose to join your party?
As a medical cannabis user, I’ve experienced firsthand the therapeutic benefits of cannabis and the stigma that often comes with seeking relief through it. I believe strongly in the Legalise Cannabis Party’s vision, from legalising adult use and home cultivation to expanding the hemp industry. These changes have the potential to drive economic growth, ease the burden on our justice system, and create a more compassionate, forward-thinking approach to cannabis in Australia. I’m committed to supporting these goals in any way I can.
What is your number one policy to reduce the cost of living for the people of Holt?
By legalising and regulating cannabis cultivation, Holt could see the emergence of new industries, leading to job creation in farming, processing, distribution, and ancillary services within Holt.
The expansion of the cannabis industry in Australia has already demonstrated its capacity for job creation. In Mildura, Cann Group operates a large-scale cultivation and manufacturing facility, contributing to local employment and economic activity.
This growth mindset, open dialogue with residents, and the ability to keep major parties on track with the goal of helping Australian families, will deliver cost of living assistance to the residents of Holt.
Why are you the best candidate for Holt?
I bring real-world experience, a strong commitment to sustainability, and a vision for local economic growth. Holt has untapped potential, especially in its semi-rural areas, to become a hub for cannabis and hemp cultivation, boosting our local economy and supporting hardworking families.
I’m here to represent the evolving values of our community and advocate for smarter, fairer policies that make a real difference in people’s lives.
Can you tell us about your life outside of work?
Outside of work I tend to spend my time with my fiancée, working on our home, going for hikes, and spending time with family. I particularly enjoy cooking and entertaining friends, spending time in my community and staying healthy.
What do you believe are the three biggest issues facing the Holt electorate?
– Housing affordability and availability.
– Cost of living pressures.
– Infrastructure and public services.
What are your plans or policies to encourage local job creation and support businesses in Casey? What types of industries or sectors do you see as key in the area?
One key opportunity I see is in developing a legal cannabis and hemp industry right here in Holt. We have the land, we have the workforce, and we have growing community support. Cultivation, processing, and retail of cannabis, along with industrial hemp, can provide a wide range of jobs.
By supporting small-scale farmers, local entrepreneurs, and green manufacturing, we can create new industries that don’t just provide jobs but build resilience and reduce our environmental impact.
In addition to that, I support local investment in community-driven business hubs, apprenticeships, and training programs, especially for young people, to ensure the next generation can build a future here, without having to leave the area for opportunities.
The goal is simple: fewer hours stuck commuting, more time with family, and stronger local communities supported by industries that are forward-thinking, sustainable, and inclusive.
Cassandra Fernando
(Labor)
Where do you live and how long have you lived there?
I live in Narre Warren South. I am a lifelong local who studied at St Gerard’s Primary School and Lyndale Secondary College in Dandenong North and worked as a pastry chef across South-East Melbourne.
Why did you choose to run for the seat of Holt?
Holt is my home. Having grown up in the outer south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, I decided to run because I know the challenges and opportunities our community faces.
I’ve seen first-hand how government decisions impact everyday lives, and I wanted to be at the table to make sure our community is never left behind.
Why did you choose to join your party?
The Labor Party has always stood up for working Australians. Before entering Parliament, I worked for 15 years at Woolworths and spent 5 years fighting for better pay and conditions for my former colleagues. That experience showed me the importance of good governments in protecting rights and lifting people up.
Labor has always fought to protect penalty rates, lift the minimum wage, and expand access to education and healthcare through programs like Medicare and TAFE. And I know that only Labor has the vision to support communities like ours.
What is your number one policy to reduce the cost of living for the people of Holt?
I want people in Holt to keep more of what they earn. That’s why I’ve backed Labor’s tax cuts, which will see the average resident keep around $2,500 more of their own money each year.
Why are you the best candidate for Holt?
I believe I am the best candidate for Holt because I listen, I fight and I deliver. I’m not just a representative—I’m a part of this community.
I’ve spent my most of my life working in essential roles that everyday Australians rely on. I bring that experience and perspective to Parliament every day.
My focus is always on delivering for Holt—whether that’s through building the infrastructure we need, backing Australian jobs, or standing up for our community.
Could tell us about your life outside of work?
Outside of work, I’m an expecting mother who is very excited for the birth of her first child and a qualified pastry chef who continues to pursue baking as a hobby.
Family and community mean everything to me and I enjoy baking for friends, family and community groups—I am always looking for an excuse to whip up a batch of something sweet!
What do you believe are the three biggest issues facing the Holt electorate?
1. Cost of Living
2. Mortgage Stress
3. Local Infrastructure
What are your plans or policies to encourage local job creation and support businesses in Casey? What types of industries or sectors do you see as key in the area?
Creating good local jobs is one of my top priorities. Our government is delivering on this through the Future Made in Australia plan—a $22.7 billion commitment to revitalising Australian manufacturing and building resilient industries right here at home.
Just recently, I visited the Nuttelex factory in Cranbourne West—a nearly 100-year-old Australian company now producing plant-based milk right here in our community. This is the kind of industry that can provide secure jobs in our area—making things in Cranbourne West for shelves across the country!
We are also investing in energy, construction, defence manufacturing, health care, and the digital economy—all areas that will drive job creation in Holt and across Casey.
Importantly, I’m focused on making sure the infrastructure is in place to support those jobs. That means better road access to our industrial estates, expanded training programs, and ensuring all residents have access to reliable high-speed internet and mobile coverage—so people can work from home, study, or run their own small businesses.
Annette Samuel
(Liberal)
Where do you live and how long have you lived there?
I am proud to call Narre Warren South home. It is a community I have lived in for the past 16 years.
Why did you choose to run for the seat of Holt?
This is the best community in Victoria. It’s a community my family and I have a deep connection with, and we are privileged to be a part of.
It’s a community that has given me a lot, and I’d like to give something back.
Why did you choose to join your party?
The Liberal Party’s values and beliefs reflect my own.
I believe in the freedom of thought, worship, speech and association.
I believe that governments should minimise their interference in our daily lives; and maximise individual and private sector initiative.
And I believe in a just and humane society in which the importance of the family and the role of law and justice is maintained.
What is your number one policy to reduce the cost of living for the people of Holt?
Only a Coalition Government will deliver long-term cost-of-living relief.
We will deliver most Australians up to $1200 in tax relief when they lodge their tax return for the 2025-26 financial year.
We will cut petrol tax by 25 cents a litre, meaning households with two cars will save $1500 a year.
Why are you the best candidate for the Holt?
Locals tell me Labor has neglected the Holt community for too long, and that they are desperate for a strong Liberal voice to advocate for them in Canberra.
For the past three years Labor has been nothing more than a bystander.
For all the promises Labor made in 2022, they’ve delivered nothing.
Can you tell us about your life outside of work?
I am a mother of two adult children. I am actively involved in running events for my local parish and community. I am currently serving on the pastoral council and as a Eucharistic minister.
I have dedicated my time to supporting charitable and community organisations, including providing assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What do you believe are the three biggest issues facing the Holt electorate?
Labor’s cost of living crisis.
Increased rate of crime. You can hear the anxiety in residents’ voices – they no longer feel safe in their homes.
Local infrastructure upgrades, particularly our roads. Our deteriorating roads are no longer just an inconvenience, they’re a danger to road users.
What are your plans or policies to encourage local job creation and support businesses in Casey? What types of industries or sectors do you see as key in the area?
The Labor Government is a disaster. Small business bankruptcies are at a record high. 29,000 small businesses have gone insolvent under Labor.
Small businesses are also suffering from permanently increased costs of doing business, which has sent many to the wall.
Anthony Albanese promised Australians their power bills would be $275 lower, but families and businesses in Victoria are paying up to $638 more than Labor promised.
A Coalition Government will cut taxes for small business by increasing the instant asset write-off to $30,000 and making this arrangement permanent.
We will give the hospitality sector a shot in the arm with a $20,000 deduction per year for business-related meal expenses.
We will cut red and green tape for our hardworking job creating businesses, removing regulatory burdens and duplication across local, state, and federal governments.
Reviving the economy also means supporting skills development and the Coalition has set a target of 400,000 apprentices and trainees in training across Australia.
We will also provide small and medium businesses with $12,000 to support them to put on a new apprentice or trainee in critical skills areas for the first two years of their training.
