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Lyons Candidate Profiles – Independents & Minor Parties
We focused on the independent and minor party candidates for the upcoming House of Assembly elections and asked them to complete a short survey for us. The order on this page – below the electorate subheading – is random. We have not received responses from all candidates despite contacting them several times.
We encourage voters to read all profiles.
Candidates were invited to tell us about their:
- political background, principles, what shapes their views, key beliefs and what kind of politician will they be
- education, job, family and community work
- main issues in their electorate and their proposed solutions
- key upcoming issues such as the stadium, DAP’s and justice related legislation
- whether they will provide confidence and supply to a party that is proceeding with the stadium as its policy position
- reasons why you should vote for them, will they make a good MHA and what skills will they bring to parliament
You can click on their photo to go to their website (if they provided a link).
The main polling day is Saturday 19 July 2025 with pre-poll centres already open at various locations around Tasmania. Please see the TEC website for more information on how to vote.
For major parties (5 MHAs or more), their candidates can be found here: Greens, Liberal, Labor.
John Hawkins – independent
Political background:
I stood against Greg Hall for the Legislative Council in Tasmania.
I received over a quarter of the votes within a campaign two weeks after Bob Loone had suggested that I stand or Hall would have been elected without opposition.
When Senator Abetz sent two people to my front door to warn me against continuing my campaign against him as the Minister for Forests in the Federal Government, I decided he had to be put back in his box.
I took him to the High Court while sitting illegally in the Parliament, as a dual National, he finally produced his Renunciation Certificate dated months before the election.
Mr Justice Hayne made him pay his own costs, a pyrrhic victory.
He had therefore been sitting in Parliament having filled a casual vacancy for 16 years illegally.
About you, personally:
I was commissioned into the Diehards in 1962 from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where I passed out in the top 50.
I have lived in Tasmania for 23 years.
I am a former Past President and founder of the Australia Art & Antique Dealers Association. They had under a $1,000 in the bank and within six years I handed over to the new President with a secretary, an antique Fair and $130,000 in the bank.
Together with my wife we have restored three great Australian properties, Tarella in Cammeray North Sydney, Whitley in Moss Vale in the Southern Highlands and Bentley at Chudleigh. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=923186888229976
Your electorate and its key issues?
It is impossible to meet and greet everyone in this vast electorate. The key issues are:
No Prison at Deloraine
Improve the facilities at York Park to keep an AFL interest in the North of the State. Make the LGH Hospital in Launceston function properly.
No logging on the World Heritage listed Western Tiers. No fish farming off the north coast of Tasmania.
No Marinus Link, defiling our countryside and giving away our electricity at horrendous cost for all Tasmanians.
Get rid of all the party hacks currently inhabiting Parliament House, Hobart, they are all past their used by date … Shelton, Barnett, Abetz who as Minister of Forest in the Liberal Government cost the Nation $4 billion dollars in plantation tax scams.
In the House:
No stadium, sell the site by Public Auction using international auctioneers not through one of the “Maaaates.”
No fish farms Macquarie Harbour.
The Independents must hold the balance of power in the next Parliament to force the major parties to work in a collegiate parliament, in the next session.
Legislate to create a talent pool from retired over 65 citizens who will sit for one term only in the Parliament to be elected in three years time, make every candidate pass an exam set by the Civil Service a year out from the election, then publish the resulting paper. A pass requires a distinction level submission.
Who else gets a high paid job with no interview or examination of their potential?
Then allow candidates to stand for election on their marks with a published CV.
A proper job requires a proper job application, the proponent to be properly qualified.
Will you provide confidence and supply to a party which is proceeding with a stadium as a policy position?
No!
We cannot afford to go further into bankruptcy over this pie in the sky policy. The days of feeding the people cake ended with the guillotine.
Government expertise in administering large projects such as this is zero, they couldn’t even build a backyard shed.
Why you, why now?
I have managed to remain in business in Australia for 57 years to make a profit each year and pay my taxes in full. I have had the same firm of accountants, father and son for 57 years and my personal assistant for 36 years.
I can run a tight ship as I have done around the world with over 150 trips to London which means that I have spent over a year in a jumbo jet.
I have to retire as my wife is not well and I have built a new house with no steps in her Arboretum of Tasmanian native trees here in Chudleigh.
A new challenge beckons!
Phillip Bigg – independent
Political background:
Previous secretary of SFF Tasmania current president of shooters union Tasmania, 2024 state election, Prosser election, federal senate election. Current Lyons election. Fundamentally above all I live by the ways of the folk story, the overall meaning of the story is that if we all come together we can make great things happen whether it be in the community or in parliament. I care greatly about our communities and I am sick of seeing regional communities put at a disadvantage.
About you, personally:
Working for my family’s business as a tradesman, I find joy in all things outdoors and gardening. I’ve always been a pragmatic person and work best with a hands on approach.
Your electorate and its key issues?
Lyons covers a vast area holding many small communities that are being underrepresented when it comes to local issues such as development with essential services whether it be health or even telecommunications. With a growing population this needs to be addressed.
In the House:
Many significant issues that have been dragged on in the house, often with self-serving agendas from the submitters deserve to be openly debated without grandstanding as we have recently seen. DAPS being put forth as an example to circumvent councils when in actual fact the planning scheme is not fit for purpose shows an attitude of a tyrants nature. Secret deals, business for mates or sometimes just putting up legislation in spite has degraded the peoples trust in our elected parliament. The House of Assembly has been an utter disgrace and I would not suffer it in a newly elected house.
Will you provide confidence and supply to a party which is proceeding with a stadium as a policy position?
To supply confidence and supply to a party proceeding with a pro stadium policy doesn’t mean one has to vote for it as long as those terms are established from the beginning.
Why you, why now?
Working in thousands of Tasmanian homes I’ve learnt a lot. I am always talking to customers about history, politics, current social issues… you name it I’ve had the conversation and I find more often than not majority of Tasmanians believe in the future we deserve however this divisive and disgraceful attitude in politics has created fractions within our communities.
We need someone in parliament to bring people and communities together for the long term future and not just the next election cycle, whether or not I would be good in parliament would be up to the people to decide, but I will listen to Tasmanians first and foremost.
Jiri Lev – independent
Political background:
My entrance into politics as an independent candidate is a cautious attempt to further the causes I have been working for through my career: equitable access to healthy, dignified housing and sustainable, resilient and beautiful built environment everywhere, among others.
My general position is environmentally conscious yet moderately conservative, a perspective missing in the traditional party spectrum. I put ideas before ideologies, policies before politics.
About you, personally:
I was born in 1979 in the city of Brno, Czechia. In 2005 I moved to Australia and became a citizen in 2014. In 2019 I completed my Masters in architecture at the University of Newcastle and then moved to Tasmania. I have lived here since, with my wife and children. While I work across Australia and internationally, I believe Tasmania to be the best place to live and raise family. I want it to stay that way.
From my track record:
I established Architects Assist, an initiative uniting over 600 Australian architectural firms who provide pro bono (free) services to those affected by natural and other disasters.
My free architectural plans for affordable homes have been downloaded by over 20,000 people, with new homes being built across Australia.
I’ve provided thousands of people with knowledge and empowerment to build their homes and futures via lectures, presentations and online media.
Your electorate and its key issues?
The issues I hear most about are housing, including employee accommodation, healthcare, cost of living, environmental degradation and political corruption. The Hobart stadium proposal, salmon farming and old growth forestry also come up in debates.
In the House:
Establish a simple pathway for all Tasmanians, including public housing tenants and applicants to build their own homes and communities, under builder’s supervision, gaining significant equity in their new rent- to-own houses, as well as skills and income potential. Like in the 50s, neighbours lending each other hand can again build streets, suburbs, villages and strong, cohesive, long-term communities. Houses will be homes again.
First home owner grants carefully targeted to result in better homes and stronger communities, not just increased prices as has been the case.
Enable owner-builder finance.
Absolute transparency in politics. The recent abandonment of lobbying disclosures in Tasmania makes no good sense. Nothing to hide – nothing to worry about.
If Development Assessment Panel (DAP) means less transparency in planning approvals, removing community appeal rights, I would not support it.
No privatisation of essential government assets such as power supply or transport.
Will you provide confidence and supply to a party which is proceeding with a stadium as a policy position?
I cannot support the present stadium design.
69% Tasmanians say the Tasmanian Parliament should renegotiate with the AFL to avoid building a new stadium.
Yes to the team, no to a stadium ruining the historical character of central Hobart (our key tourism drawcard) and the very significant unnecessary cost of building it right there.
Renovate an existing stadium, or if necessary, build a new stadium where it will be cheaper to construct, fit better the scale of surrounding development and bring more benefit to its immediate community, who actually wants it there – listen to the people.
Spend the saved funds on housing and healthcare.
Open Macquarie Point to a locally appropriate, Hobart-scale, uniquely Tasmanian mixed-use development – create more business, more housing.
Why you, why now?
I have been communicating with various politicians for years about improvements to housing, planning and building control. While they seem interested, they are not interested enough. Nothing has changed and meanwhile we’ve been seeing just more of the same.
There is a dire need for fresh ideas and innovation and my candidacy is the logical next step to take.
Angela Offord – independent
Political background:
Independent not affiliated with any political party and associated ideology and vested interests.
Stood as an independent candidate in the last state election and recent federal election. Core values equity, transparency and accountability. Key beliefs that a fulfilling life means to contribute positively to people, animals and the environment. Being able to make lives better and conserve our beautiful and unique environment using all available information and consulting widely to make informed, evidenced based decisions is really important to me.
I would be a collaborative, consultative, transparent and accountable politician listening and researching the views of the community that I represent and working with other elected members to achieve the best outcomes.
About you, personally:
I completed a Bachelor of Veterinary Science in 1991 and have worked in mixed practice and small animal practice ever since. For 20 years I worked for the professional body representing veterinarians and animals and found a passion for great governance, policy development, working with stakeholders, advocacy and policy development.
I live with my daughter, two dogs, one cat, two horses, two goats and a myriad of wildlife. I love the unique, diverse and raw beauty of Tasmania from the mountains and lakes to the plains and rivers and sea. I greatly appreciate the benefits of living in a tight knit community that highly value the same.
Introduced to basketballl through my daughter playing it I am a mad keen JackJumpers fan and a JJs and Tornadoes volunteer.
Your electorate and its key issues?
Lyons is Tasmania’s largest electorate covering some 35,000 sq km.
It is diverse geographically and demographically and I have loved meeting people where they live in Lyons, appreciating how they live and gaining an understanding of the common issues affecting us all like problems in our health and education systems, cost of living pressures like housing affordability in addition to issues specific to specific areas.
For example, New Norfolk police staffing and poor connectivity and lack of potable water on the Tasman peninsula.
Many have expressed a dissatisfaction with the major parties with a lack of consultation, adherence to due process, collaboration, fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability.
The Integrity Commission needs greater resources in order to carry out its remit.
We need structural reform in our health and education systems and round table discussions to address budget repair.
In the House:
With the level of state debt and deficit now is not the time to be spending on a costly and not properly costed and funded roofed stadium at Macquarie Point. I look forward to the final report and recommendations from the Project of State Significance (POSS) process.
Similarly I would like to have Saul Eslake finish his report into government owned assets and which ones we could consider selling off if that was to the benefit Tasmania and Tasmanians. I am all for consultation, collaboration, evidenced based decision making and due process so that the best long term decisions can be made.
Scrap the DAPs which take away community input/consultation and implement all of the recommendation of the Youth Justice Inquiry in a timely manner.
Will you provide confidence and supply to a party which is proceeding with a stadium as a policy position?
I will provide confidence and supply so that functioning government can take place. I would not make any deals. I will fight for consultation, transparency, fiscal responsibility, due process (not special enabling legislation which circumvents due process and sets a dangerous precedent).
Why you, why now?
For two years when I haven’t been working in a practice I have traveled Lyons walking the streets, listening to residents and workers in the community, meeting with Mayors and General Managers of the 12/29 local councils that are in Lyons all to better understand where we live and how we live and the priority issues.
If I were fortunate enough to be elected I would work diligently to listen to, understand and represent the people of Lyons. As I believe every elected member should I would work collaboratively with all other elected members to achieve the best possible outcomes for Tasmanians and Tasmania.
I want to see long term vision and planning for Tasmania, a return to fiscal responsibility, transparency, accountability and integrity.
Lesley Pyecroft – Tasmanian Nationals
Political background:
Previously a JLN candidate for Lyons. Now a National Candidate for Lyons because they are offering a genuine alternative to the major parties here in Tasmania. My key beliefs Fixing the Basic First, balancing the budget and this includes Health and Education, lookiing after remote and rural and agriculture. I have been a frontline nurse with 44 years of experience and an Army Veteran with 23 years service. I have seen cracks in the Tasmanian Health system first hand. Staff shortages, under resourced facilities and growing pressure on essential services. Strong roots in rural life and a lifetime in public service. I am ready to standup for practical solutions and a fair go for all Tasmanians.
About you, personally:
Born in Calgary, Alberta Canada. Naturalised Australian Educated both here in Australia and Canada Public and Private Schools. Divorced with two sons.
Interests are wildlife carer, foster care for Just Cats, breeding meat sheep and farming. A member of Tasmanian Women in Agriculture, Mates for Mates, Australian Light Horse Association and a member of AUSMAT.
Your electorate and its key issues?
Balance the budget, bench the Stadium and fix the basics first. With these three items straight away there will be very good positive outcomes for all Tasmanians and Tasmania.
In the House:
No reckless promises, remain community minded supporting small business and local industries. Keeping jobs in Tasmania, showing Tasmanians things can be made better and achieving good outcomes for Tasmania and all Tasmanians.
Will you provide confidence and supply to a party which is proceeding with a stadium as a policy position?
We want the government to re-think the current stadium proposal. It is far too expensive and the debt will last for years. I am however 100% supportive for the Tasmanian Devils AFL team.
Why you, why now?
WHY NOT ? I am a compassionate person and carer. I want to make things easier for Tasmanians.
I bring real world experiences and knowledge.
Paul Dare – independent
Political background:
I’m a first time independent with no political party history. I have ideas to make an already great state better!
I want to be able to influence state direction without being tied to party dogma, and being caught up in party politics.
At the same time I am thankful for the extremes of politics which help shape the middle ground, and that is where we need to be to grow Tasmania with the limited financial resources that the state has to move forward.
About you, personally:
I grew up in rural Tasmania (Myalla) before joining the army in 1981.
My army career ended in 2001 achieving the rank of Major while completing a trade in electronics and a degree in Aerospace Engineering.
I then worked with Sikorsky Australia as a defence specialist, while also completing his MBA.
In 2007 after completing his Master of Divinity he become a pastor and pastored a Qld church before returning to Tasmania in 2017. Retiring in 2019 Paul now lives on the family farm at Levendale.
I have been chair of a local Bendigo Bank franchise, a member of the Wide Bay Health and Hospital Board, and has continued to be involved as a volunteer with Hospitals North.
Paul has recently remarried after losing his first wife to cancer and now has a blended family of adult children and grand children.
As a result of military service Paul is now Totally and Permanently Disabled.
Your electorate and its key issues?
The main issue within Lyons is the size of the electorate and the ability to be a local politician within it. It also allows parties to get away with, ‘we spent this in Lyons,’ when in fact it might not help the people it should. People in Bothwell have different needs to those in St Helens just as people in Nubeena and Sheffield.
So for our electorate and the others in the state I’m proposing moving away from the Hare-Clark multi politician model which favours the major parties to seven single politician electorates where politicians would live and represent the areas under a optional preferential model.
(An example of seats could be: Break O’Day, Glamorgan Spring Bay and part Midlands; Sorell and Tasman; Derwent Valley, Central Highlands and part of Southern Midlands; Clarence and Brighton; Northern Midlands and part Southern Midlands; Part Meander Valley; and Kentish and part Meander Valley)
In the House:
Tourism Tax – 1.3 million in 2024 to grow tourism.
Treaty – A non-liability treaty between the people of Tasmania and the First Nations that existed prior to colonisation. It will make our history truthful and real, it will enable all Tasmanians to move forward with pride.
Farm Gate Sales – Farm gate sales for meat to be allowed with the buyer to be aware aware for private consumption.
Emus – Tasmania used to have emus, they became extinct in Tasmania in the early 1800’s. Re-introduce emus in Tasmania
Fast Train – Initially between Hobart and Launceston (1 hour time max) to help future proof the state. Open up more housing options and make Campbell Town and Oatlands within 30 minutes of Launceston and Hobart respectively. 70% of Tasmanians within 1 hour of the capital, and our football team
Will you provide confidence and supply to a party which is proceeding with a stadium as a policy position?
I believe in the dream, and the commercial reality of the license, so for a team we need the stadium. There is a reason activities move indoors in the depth of winter, it makes it a more accessible and friendly environment. Just imagine the TSO on the domain in August – Brrr. The stadium is also more than that, because once built it makes the city and state more attractive to other events. People talk about The G, Gabba, The Point could become the same. People talk about traffic, but Salamanca markets have more people attend them, the economic return is there when as even the Hobart City Council have attested too. We might even get a cricket test again because of surety of play.
So yes I will provide confidence and supply to a party with the reality of no stadium, no team.
Why you, why now?
The answer to that question is why shouldn’t you vote for me. I’m not a single issue independent, I’m relatively central in my thinking. If you are sick of the circus and want action, sick of politicians not telling the whole truth then vote for me. I am compassionate, smart and understand that we are here for a short time, and my goal is to leave everywhere I go a better place.
I have attained a lot of knowledge and experience through life and now is the time to pass that on, implement it and move forward. Unfortunately due to injuries the hours I can work per week are limited, but honestly I still think i will do a better job that most.
A vote for me is a vote for a disabled veteran who just wants to continue to give to his electorate, state and country.
No information received on other independent and minor party candidates.
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