As Canberra’s north readies for another federal election, the seat of Fenner is quietly shaping into a contest marked by subtle shifts rather than loud swings. At the heart of this electorate lies Gungahlin, one of Australia’s fastest-growing suburbs, where rows of newly built townhouses now mirror the layered demographics that define this northern ACT division.
Fenner has been held by Labor’s Andrew Leigh since its rebranding from Fraser in 2016. Leigh, a former ANU economics professor and a widely published author, commands a solid base here. The seat itself was named after scientist Frank Fenner and comprises most of Canberra north of Lake Burley Griffin. Its borders include Gungahlin, Belconnen, and parts of North Canberra, capturing a cross-section of public servants, university students, new migrants, and young families.
According to the 2021 ABS Census, Fenner had a population of 161,000, with Gungahlin alone housing over 87,000 people. The area is multicultural and relatively youthful by ACT standards. More than 35% of residents in Gungahlin were born overseas. Languages such as Hindi, Nepali, Mandarin, Punjabi and Vietnamese are widely spoken at home. Nearly half the population reports no religious affiliation, and over 70% have completed tertiary education or are enrolled in university, reflecting the area’s status as a knowledge economy hub.
The Indian and Nepali communities in particular have grown in prominence over the past five years. International student arrivals, skilled migrants on temporary work visas, and younger professionals employed in Canberra’s public and private sectors have all contributed to the demographic transformation. Many work in healthcare, administration, IT, or are attached to research institutions. Their concerns, though not always captured in mainstream debates, have centred around housing affordability, school enrolment bottlenecks, visa processing delays, and reliable public transport.
Leigh enters this election with the advantage of incumbency, policy credentials, and a deep connection to the electorate’s professional and academic base. But this time, the contest is less about whether he retains the seat and more about what share of the vote he holds amid a wider conversation about voter disengagement, cost-of-living anxiety, and generational expectations.
The list of confirmed candidates for Fenner in 2025 includes:
- Andrew Leigh (Australian Labor Party)
- Bola Olatunbosun (Liberal Party)
- Dani Hunterford (Australian Greens)
- Elizabeth Kikkert (Family First Party)
The Greens’ Dani Hunterford appeals to a growing demographic of environmentally conscious young voters in suburbs like Dickson and Hackett. While the Greens have historically polled in the low teens in Fenner, this campaign aims to build on dissatisfaction with major party offerings around climate, housing, and cost-of-living pressures.
Liberal candidate Bola Olatunbosun is a new face to many, but brings a community advocacy background to her campaign. Her focus on housing affordability, aged care, and local support services has gained attention in some of Gungahlin’s newer housing estates. Olatunbosun is working to expand the Liberal vote in what is otherwise a Labor stronghold.
Elizabeth Kikkert, representing the Family First Party, enters with name recognition from her tenure in the ACT Legislative Assembly. While Family First holds limited federal sway, her campaign draws on faith-based networks and socially conservative voices in Canberra’s north.
In the 2022 federal election, Andrew Leigh won with a primary vote of 60.5%, while the Liberal candidate managed just over 22%. The Greens polled 11.4%, with other minor candidates and independents sharing the rest. The two-party-preferred vote had Labor comfortably ahead at 68.4%. Informal votes accounted for 3.6% of total votes cast, and turnout was high at 91.1%, consistent with ACT’s historically strong electoral engagement.
Social media sentiment in 2025, however, hints at shifting tones. Threads on local Facebook groups like “Gungahlin Community Chat” and “Belconnen Locals” show mounting frustration about long public hospital wait times, clogged arterial roads, and rental pressures. Newer migrants express dissatisfaction with Home Affairs backlogs, while younger families are concerned about childcare shortages and school zoning pressures. Public forums reflect a demand for greater consultation, not just performance.
Housing affordability remains a sensitive nerve. While median property prices in the ACT dipped slightly between 2023 and 2024, rental prices have continued to climb. For many in Fenner’s outer suburbs, the conversation isn’t about buying property, but securing consistent leases near schools and transport corridors. This issue has translated into community advocacy, letter-writing campaigns, and local petitions—particularly from residents who migrated post-2018 and were impacted by border closures and policy uncertainty during the pandemic.
Transport infrastructure continues to divide opinion. Light rail expansion into Stage 2 is underway, but not without its detractors. Many commuters argue that road upgrades and bus reliability should take precedence. The ACT Government’s planning decisions have become a proxy issue, and federal candidates have been drawn into debates that straddle both levels of government.
The visibility of Indian, Nepali, and Chinese-origin community leaders in local civic life has increased. Cultural organisations, weekend schools, and business chambers have all grown, adding soft pressure on candidates to engage more personally with multicultural voters. Some candidates have appeared at Diwali functions and Holi events, while others have visited local temples, gurdwaras, or community halls. Still, there remains a sense that political engagement lags behind population growth.
Turnout trends suggest that the electorate remains politically active but wary. Informal vote rates have been stable, but concerns about voter apathy are growing. Long-term residents are increasingly disillusioned with political process fatigue, while new citizens often feel alienated by campaign jargon that fails to address everyday concerns. The question for 2025 is whether any of this will translate into a swing, or merely a muted electorate returning a familiar face.
For now, the seat looks secure for Labor. But the margin may tighten slightly if Greens or Liberal candidates perform better than expected. The most likely scenario remains a comfortable retention, albeit with warning signs for the major parties about how quickly local issues can cut through.
Fenner doesn’t roar like a marginal seat. It hums, slowly but persistently. And within that hum lies the voice of a community that’s growing, diversifying, and quietly asking to be heard—beyond campaign slogans and census snapshots.
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
🏛️ Labor's @ALeighMP set to retain multicultural #Fenner (ACT) despite demographic shifts. 🏘️ Housing, transport & migrant concerns dominate in fast-growing #Gungahlin. 🌱 Greens & Liberals vie for protest votes in safe Labor seat. #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/O594ie5zoQ
— The Indian Sun (@The_Indian_Sun) April 16, 2025
Donate To The Indian Sun
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun is an independent organisation committed to community journalism. We have, through the years, been able to reach a wide audience especially with the growth of social media, where we also have a strong presence. With platforms such as YouTube videos, we have been able to engage in different forms of storytelling. However, the past few years, like many media organisations around the world, it has not been an easy path. We have a greater challenge. We believe community journalism is very important for a multicultural country like Australia. We’re not able to do everything, but we aim for some of the most interesting stories and journalism of quality. We call upon readers like you to support us and make any contribution. Do make a DONATION NOW so we can continue with the volume and quality journalism that we are able to practice.
Thank you for your support.
Best wishes,
Team The Indian Sun
