Council & Politics
19 September, 2026
The speech pathologist unable to speak
LOCAL media outlets including the Pyrenees Advocate, Ararat Advocate and Stawell Times-News are becoming increasingly frustrated over the lack of access to One Nation candidate for Ripon, Donna Buxton. Ms Buxton – a speech pathologist from Gippsland - was announced as the One Nation candidate three weeks ago, but repeated attempts to speak with her have failed.
Our three local newspapers are keen to do a story about Ms Buxton about who she is, what she stands for, her policies and the issues most pressing for people living in the Ripon electorate.
But this newspaper along with our sister publications along with other newspapers in Ripon including the Loddon Times, Maryborough Advertiser and NCN Herald have all failed to meet with and chat directly with Ms Buxton.
We’ve also tried to book Ms Buxton for the Ararat candidates forum on November 17 without success.
In our most recent email, Ms Buxton again directed us to send a list of questions to One Nation headquarters.
“I appreciate your interest in speaking with me and understand that you would like to prepare a profile introducing candidates to the community. However, all One Nation candidates are required to follow the party’s media approval process. I’m not authorised to arrange or participate in a phone or face-to-face interview unless it has first been approved by the Victorian media team,” she wrote.
“Their request for your proposed questions or discussion topics is part of that process, so you will need to continue liaising directly with them regarding the interview.”
All other candidates running for Ripon have been freely available to speak with media.
Editors note:
Our request so speak with Ms Buxton is nothing unusual. When elections come around, we feel it is important to introduce candidates to the community and let people know who they are and what they stand for.
We are not looking for a “gotcha” moment.
A sit down over a coffee and chat about the election, the issues and priorities is a really important and positive thing for all candidates to do.
Can you imagine the outrage if the Labor or Liberal candidates were unavailable to the media?
Country media outlets like ourselves are not out to ruin a candidates chances. But we do want to inform our readers about the people running for office and what they will do if elected.
If Ms Buxton can’t have a simple interview with the a local newspapers in the Ripon electorate before the election, what on earth will she be like if she becomes an MP?