Sustainable Australia Party is an independent community movement with a science and evidence-based approach to policy.
SAP's mission is to create a fair and sustainable Australia.
SAP has developed a broad policy platform with the sustainable solutions to address Australia's growing economic, environmental and social problems. To help achieve a fair and sustainable Australia, SAP prioritises the fight for affordable housing now, the sustainable way.
There's much more. See Policies.
Lucas James Ellis for Farrer
For a fair and sustainable Australia
Lucas James Ellis is a dedicated community advocate with a deep-seated commitment to Australia's economic, environmental and social sustainability, from affordable housing to health and water issues.
Lucas is a proud and patriotic Australian who enjoys our vibrant and egalitarian culture. He is equally proud of his Croatian heritage including his grandparents' refugee journey to Australia from the former Yugoslavia (now Croatia) via Italy.
Having lived in the Albury region during his formative years, Lucas has made life-long friends and built a deep connection to the area. Following travel and work overseas, then university pursuits, he more recently returned to Albury to take up an exciting new career opportunity.
Lucas brings a fresh, evidence-based perspective to the political arena. He holds a Bachelor of Sustainable Communities (with Distinction) and is currently completing a Masters of Urban Planning at UTS by distance, ensuring he has the academic and technical expertise to address the complex challenges facing the Farrer electorate.
Professionally, Lucas works in the planning sector in Albury, providing him with an invaluable, hands-on insight into regional infrastructure and community development. This involves the coordination and assessment of economic, environmental and social proposals. His background in urban and town planning is particularly relevant as Sustainable Australia Party prioritises the fight for affordable housing now, the sustainable way.
Unlike the Liberals, Nationals, Labor, Greens, One Nation and Teals, SAP tackles both the major supply and demand-side issues to sustainably solve the housing crisis, stop over-development, and protect our local environments and communities.
SAP's housing plan includes:
- More social housing
- Less investor tax breaks
- Slower migration
Lucas believes that by balancing supply and demand and focusing on smart urban form, we can protect our environment from over-development and ensure every Australian - including young Australians like himself - has a place to call home.
Outside of his professional life, Lucas is an active member of the local community, having served as a volunteer manager for local football (soccer) clubs. Whether he is enjoying the outdoors, live music, surfing, swimming, hitting the gym, reading with his book club or engaging in constructive discussions on local issues, Lucas is known for his charisma, integrity, and ability to listen. He is ready to bring his energy and passion to the federal stage to represent the diverse needs of the people of Farrer.
Key campaign priorities and policies
In the 2026 Farrer By-election, SAP is fighting for a fair and sustainable Australia.
To help achieve a fair and sustainable Australia, SAP prioritises the fight for affordable housing now, the sustainable way.
Other priorities include:
- Easing the cost of living including housing
- Protecting our environment and water security
- Securing better healthcare and infrastructure
- Re-building economic diversity including manufacturing
SAP's full policy platform can be found here:
www.sustainableaustralia.org.au/policies
During the course of the campaign, a number of issues have been raised with me by community members and organisations. I have provided a summary of my responses under 'Q&A' below and will update this as the campaign continues.
Electorate of Farrer
See the electorate and detailed map here.
Get involved
> Donate
Please donate to SAP's campaign here.
> Contact
- Email: [email protected]
> Social media links
> Volunteering
Letterboxing
Do you live in or near the Farrer electorate? If so, we can send you some flyers to letterbox.
Please volunteer here.
Early Voting Centres / Election day Voting Centres
Important: SAP volunteer and voting centre behaviour guidelines HERE
Volunteer
To volunteer for the campaign click here.
Early voting centres
See AEC website here.
Election day voting centres
See AEC website here.
SAP volunteer shifts:
- AM shift 9am-1pm (or part thereof), PM shift 1pm-6pm (or part thereof)
How to vote SAP (Preferences)
As an independent community movement, after you Vote 1 for Sustainable Australia Party, we recommend that you decide where to direct your own preferences.
Q&A
Q: If elected in this byelection, what outcomes will you try to deliver before the next federal election?
A: I would start with ensuring affordable housing now, the sustainable way. Unlike all the others, Sustainable Australia Party tackles both the major supply and demand-side issues including more social housing, less investor tax breaks and slower migration. If young and ordinary working people can’t afford rent and housing in Farrer, our regions will not attract more workers. According to Roy Morgan Research, 3.4 million Australians (21% of the workforce) either unemployed or under-employed. This is a big opportunity.
Q: What is your position on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and water buybacks?
A: Sustainable Australia Party recognises that the Murray-Darling Basin is a critical and productive agricultural region. SAP also recognises that buybacks have caused concern among some agricultural stakeholders regarding the impact of farming communities. While SAP does not support the end to voluntary water buybacks, we recognise that a holistic approach to water conservation and management is required. In particular, SAP’s Water policy calls for a Federal Royal Commission into water management in the Murray–Darling Basin, to scientifically determine, among other things: An appropriate cap on water diversions; An investigation of total return flows from irrigation water and total water actually delivered to the environment; and The appropriateness of speculative water trading and commodification. We must fix speculative water trading to protect farmers from corporate price gouging, if necessary prioritise local food security water uses over export-related uses, and slow population growth to reduce future demand. Our science and evidence-based approach ensures a healthy river system that supports both the environment and regional jobs for the long term. SAP policy is centred on long-term resource security, that is, sustainability.
Q: What is your position on the PALM Scheme and allegations of seasonal worker exploitation?
A: Sustainable Australia Party understands the critical need to have available labour and skills in regional Australia. First, we should prioritise local workers for employment opportunities across the economy. According to Roy Morgan Research, which has a broader and more realistic definition of unemployment than the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are around 1.7 million Australians unemployed and around 1.9 million under-employed, meaning a total of around 3.6 million Australians are available for more work. This should be our priority. Where structural labour shortages appear in the economy, we should lift wages and conditions including through temporary government support for workers and employers, rather than import unskilled, low-skilled and/or semi-skilled workers as the first option. Affordable housing is a priority for SAP, which plays a critical role in attracting and retaining local labour to the regions. While also welcoming PALM Scheme workers to compliment this strategy, SAP strongly opposes seasonal worker exploitation and advocates for more resources to investigate such allegations.
Q: Where do you stand on the Albury hospital redevelopment and the state of health services across Farrer?
A: Sustainable Australia Party advocates for a world-class, single-site regional hospital on a greenfield location in Albury-Wodonga. By moving beyond short-term 'brownfield' patches, we can future-proof our regional community's health and wellbeing with a purpose-built facility designed for long-term sustainability, efficient service delivery, and the needs of a broad regional population. Better planning for and investment in health professionals including GPs, nurses and mental health practitioners must accompany this infrastructure for our regional communities.
Q: How will you bring more GPs and health services to regional Australia?
A: Sustainable Australia Party recognises the GP shortage in regional Australia. We need to better invest in medical training in regional areas. Addressing the GP shortage involves a combination of financial incentives, specialised training pathways, and localised strategic advocacy to state and federal government. Outcomes must achieve a locally-managed system to address the specific needs of the area. Further, if elected I would ensure local voices receive prominence within hospital and health boards, to make appropriate decisions regarding local staffing and resources.
Q: What is your position on firearms and gun laws?
A: SAP’s general position on firearms and gun laws is covered in our Law & Order policy which states that Sustainable Australia Party will: "Prevent firearm violence, including via best practice firearms registration systems.(1)" Footnotes: (1) SAP has no plans to change gun laws. Relevant legislation would be addressed on its merits if elected, in an evidence-based way after careful stakeholder engagement.
This is our general approach to firearm laws. We have no specific agenda in this area. I will certainly fight for the rights of law-abiding citizens in Farrer and beyond to go about their normal lawful business in managing their farms, hunting, sports shooting, etc. In terms of the new firearm laws introduced by the Albanese Government following the Bondi attack, we are aware that it has faced both support from some and criticism from others. We believe that rushed laws can be problematic, so I commit to retaining an open mind about the specifics of such legislation and to consulting with experts and community groups on these matters. As mentioned above, SAP is guided by science and evidence.
Q: What is your position on increasing the financial sustainability of local governments through Federal Assistance Grants?
A: Sustainable Australia Party recognises that local government is under increasing financial pressure through cost-shifting and population growth, among other things. In particular, SAP's Anti-corruption & Governance policy calls for government to restore local government Financial Assistance Grants from the Federal Government to 1% of total Commonwealth taxation revenue.
More Q&A coming soon...
Questions? Click on the SAP website Contact link above.