With less than seven weeks until the state election is held on Saturday 21 March postal voting applications are now open with the State Electoral Commission.

Finniss MP David Basham has questioned the value and validity of several candidate forums organised in his electorate, when not all candidates are yet known.

“I strongly support genuine engagement during election campaigns to ensure voters have the information they need to make decisions,” Mr Basham says.

“Candidate forums can be a valuable part of this process when they are independently organised and neutrally facilitated. However, the candidate forums recently advertised in the Fleurieu Sun and on social media have been organised and promoted by an individual candidate and/or their volunteers. 

Six candidate forums have been advertised so far; one was held at Goolwa’s Centenary Hall last night, Monday 2 February.

The others will be at Milang Institute tonight, Tuesday 3 February; Port Elliot RSL Hall on Thursday 5 February; Mount Compass War memorial Hall on Tuesday 10 February; Victor Harbor Gospel Centre on Wednesday 11 February; and Inman Valley Memorial Hall on Thursday 17 February. All start at 7pm.

Independent candidate for Finniss Bronwyn Lewis says she is a member of several of the groups that have organised forums and had offered to pay for the Centenary Hall booking, but it was not necessary as the council waived the fee.

She says the forums have been organised by different people in each town, with Alexandrina Councillor Bill Coomans as moderator.

Lou Nicholson ran as an independent candidate for Finniss in the 2022 state election. She says the strongest forums are those that are clearly community-led, transparent in their organisation, and open to all declared candidates on equal terms. 

“That’s what gives voters confidence in the process and the discussion.

“I’ll continue to attend and support forums that meet those standards, and I deeply appreciate the local groups and volunteers who are putting in the work to create fair opportunities for community engagement.”

Mr Basham says he is more than willing to participate in a genuinely independent candidates’ forum facilitated by a neutral body in the coming months.

“It is also worth noting that, as of 1 February, both the Labor and Greens parties have yet to announce their candidates for Finniss. An independent forum held after all candidates are declared would better serve the community by allowing voters to hear from everyone seeking to represent them.

“As always, I remain accessible and committed to engaging with our community now and throughout the election campaign, which formally begins on 21 February 2026 when the writs are issued.

For those unable to attend a polling place on 21 March, postal vote applications can be made online. 

Postal votes will be sent out to those who have applied once all the candidate nominations are known, after the elections writs have been issued.