ABC Riverina chief of staff Gary-Jon Lysaght said inviting only the Liberals, Labor and Greens to the forum was intentional.
He said other candidates would be given a platform to reach out to constituents through their radio program, to be broadcast live from Deniliquin on Wednesday.
“The Liberals, Labor and Greens are the parties most likely to form government,” he explained of the decision.
“All three parties have confirmed their attendance, but because the Greens’s Farrer candidate (Eli Davern) was unable to attend, the party will be represented by its Senate candidate Amanda Conn.
“People from Deniliquin and surrounds will have the opportunity to ask them questions.
“There is the capacity for a live audience, and we’ll also be livestreaming it via our Facebook page and broadcasting it on radio.”
Mr Lysacht said ABC Riverina always hosts its candidate forums outside of the main centres of the electorates to “give the people in small communities an opportunity to hear from the candidates”.
The Deniliquin forum will be hosted at the Deniliquin RSL Club from 6pm Tuesday, with the public invited to attend and ask questions.
All Farrer candidates, in ballot order, are:
- Eli Davern (The Greens)
- Sussan Ley (Liberals)
- Amanda Duncan-Strelec (Independent)
- Paul Britton (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party)
- Ian Christopher Roworth (Liberal Democrats Party)
- Richard Francis (Pauline Hanson's One Nation)
- Julie Ramos (United Australia Party)
- Darren Cameron (Labor)
The Pastoral Times intends to run candidate profiles from candidates in its May 20 edition. What questions would you ask them? Tell us by emailing zoe.mcmaugh@denipt.com.au.