Party: | Australian Greens |
Alma Mater: | RMIT University, La Trobe University, University of Melbourne |
Occupation: | Social worker, former politician |
Website: | https://alexbhathal.com/ |
Alexandra Kaur Bhathal[1] (born 1964 or 1965)[2] is a social worker and former politician. She is most known as a perennial candidate for the Australian Greens in the Division of Batman, having stood on six occasions; 2001, 2004, 2010, 2013, 2016, and at the 2018 Batman by-election.[3] Bhathal was also the candidate for the state Electoral district of Northcote in 2006.[4]
Bhathal's father was a Punjabi Sikh from a village near Verka Town, India.
Bhathal's campaign was damaged when a 101-page document containing claims of bullying by Bhathal was leaked.[5] After the by-election, an internal Greens review dismissed the allegations against Bhathal, and apologised to her.
Bhathal was planned to be the candidate for the Division of Cooper at the 2019 Australian federal election, but withdrew in August 2018, stating that her previous campaign had been "sabotaged" by individuals within the party.[6]
In February 2019, Bhathal resigned from the Australian Greens, stating she had been the victim of "relentless organisational bullying" over several years.[7]
A documentary was made about Bhathal's unsuccessful campaign in 2018, entitled The Candidate.[8] The screening of the film in July 2019 was sabotaged, with the fire alarm being set off as soon as the film started.[9]