Greens candidate Sophie Thorn By Catherine Watson
SOPHIE Thorn, a 34-year-old youth mental health worker, has been selected as the Greens candidate for Bass in the November state election.
Ms Thorn lives in Cape Paterson and has lived and worked in the electorate all her life.
She joined the party last year and volunteered in Greens leader Adam Bandt’s office at the federal election
The Greens vote typically hovers around the 10 per cent mark in Bass. Ms Thorn said she hopes to raise it to 15 per cent by engaging people who feel disengaged from politics, particularly young people.
SOPHIE Thorn, a 34-year-old youth mental health worker, has been selected as the Greens candidate for Bass in the November state election.
Ms Thorn lives in Cape Paterson and has lived and worked in the electorate all her life.
She joined the party last year and volunteered in Greens leader Adam Bandt’s office at the federal election
The Greens vote typically hovers around the 10 per cent mark in Bass. Ms Thorn said she hopes to raise it to 15 per cent by engaging people who feel disengaged from politics, particularly young people.
“My aim is to connect face to face. I really want to get people talking to one another about real issues.”
She nominates climate action as her top issue. “There’s no point talking about health or cost of living while climate change disasters are going to make things worse in the future.”
Bass was the closest contest in the 2022 state election with sitting Labor MP Jordan Crugnale prevailing over the Liberal candidate Aaron Brown by just 202 votes after a two-week count.
Ms Crugnale is not recontesting the seat in 2026. The Labor Party has selected Chris Buckingham, the 56-year-old former CEO of the Casey Cardinia Library Corporation and the Latrobe Valley Authority.
The Liberal Party has yet to announce a candidate.
The National candidate at the 2022 election, Bass Coast Deputy Mayor Brett Tessari will not be standing this time round.
The National MP for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath, has been a vocal presence in Bass Coast since then but a Nationals spokesperson said the party had not yet decided whether they would run a candidate this time.
Family First, Freedom Party of Victoria, the Animal Justice Party and Labor DLP also ran candidates in 2022 but have yet to announce candidates. Given the recent surge in support for One Nation, it is also expected to run a candidate in Bass.
She nominates climate action as her top issue. “There’s no point talking about health or cost of living while climate change disasters are going to make things worse in the future.”
Bass was the closest contest in the 2022 state election with sitting Labor MP Jordan Crugnale prevailing over the Liberal candidate Aaron Brown by just 202 votes after a two-week count.
Ms Crugnale is not recontesting the seat in 2026. The Labor Party has selected Chris Buckingham, the 56-year-old former CEO of the Casey Cardinia Library Corporation and the Latrobe Valley Authority.
The Liberal Party has yet to announce a candidate.
The National candidate at the 2022 election, Bass Coast Deputy Mayor Brett Tessari will not be standing this time round.
The National MP for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath, has been a vocal presence in Bass Coast since then but a Nationals spokesperson said the party had not yet decided whether they would run a candidate this time.
Family First, Freedom Party of Victoria, the Animal Justice Party and Labor DLP also ran candidates in 2022 but have yet to announce candidates. Given the recent surge in support for One Nation, it is also expected to run a candidate in Bass.