Independent backed by ex-Lib battling to upset safe Liberal seat of Grey

The race to the finish line is on in the South Australian seat of Grey as candidates enter the last week of campaigning before the federal election on May 21.

The electorate that geographically covers more than 90 per cent of South Australia, is more than 100,000 square kilometres larger than New South Wales.

The boundaries stretch from the Adelaide Plains to the Western Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales borders.

Candidates will hit the road this week, in a battle to sway last-minute voters, clocking more than a thousand kilometres to visit constituents in places such as Streaky Bay on the far-west coast, the Southern Flinders Ranges and the Yorke Peninsula. 

Since 1993, the Liberal Party has held the power in Grey, with incumbent MP Rowan Ramsey holding the seat since 2007.

Mr Ramsey said he has a proven track record of delivering for the constituents in his electorate and his passion for politics was as strong as ever.

“My commitment to the people of Grey is that I have not lost any enthusiasm or intent to keep working hard,” he said.

“My view is normally to people, if you can’t vote for [the] Liberal Party and I wish you would, vote for the Labor Party. At least it gives somebody the clear air to run Australia in the way that they promise to and not be compromised every step of the way.”

Mr Ramsey said it was clear who the independents would preference this election.

He says voters must be clear on the direction they want to see for their electorate.

“When it comes to this election, and the outbreak of all-female independents running against sitting Liberal members … with pretty much the endorsement of the Labor Party.

A voice for community

Running against Mr Ramsey is independent Liz Habermann, who narrowly lost to Liberal Sam Telfer in the recent state election.

Ms Habermann said now was the time for change.

Ms Habermann said she would fight to save “dying” towns if elected, with a strong focus on health care.

She said she was fed up with the Liberal Party forgetting about the communities in Grey and was determined to be a voice for those communities on a federal level.

“I guess I’m one of the many disillusioned Liberal voters. I’ve voted Liberal pretty much most of the time,” Ms Habermann said.

“I realised that if we don’t change something, it’s just going to be much of the same. I want us to be here, I don’t just want it centred around Adelaide. I want it in the towns and regional SA.”

Ex-Liberal MP backs Habermann’s tilt 

Former Liberal MP for Grey, Barry Wakelin, has thrown his support behind Independent candidate, Liz Habermann, saying it’s time for a change in Grey.

Mr Wakelin became disillusioned with the Liberal Party over plans to build a Nuclear Waste facility near his home town of Kimba

It’s an issue that has divided the community and political stable mates and he says Ms Habermann is more than capable serving the people of Grey.

“It would be fantastic having a woman representing Grey in what I think would be the first time. Much more than that,

“She’s a very capable woman, she’s just proven herself in a political contest and she’s highly regarded, she’s highly regarded by the community.”

Ms Habermann said she was ready to be the voice of change that the communities of Grey need, and for her that’s on a federal level.

“We have so much potential and we deserve to have someone fighting for us over here, and as an independent I get to do that and be that voice for people in Grey.

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