A powerful new candidate has thrown her hat into the race for Malcolm Turnbull’s old seat of Wentworth and she will be doing it as an independent.
Former Australian Medical Association president and Sydney councillor Professor Kerryn Phelps AM has expressed her desire to enter the political landscape of Canberra, already having success with changing laws from outside parliament.
Prof Phelps sat down with The Daily Telegraph to talk about her run in the October 20 by-election.
Former Australian Medical Association president and Sydney councillor Professor Kerryn Phelps AM (centre) has expressed her desire to run for the seat of Wentworth at the by-election
‘As in independent person, over a period of weeks I was able to achieve a full Senate inquiry into the My Health record,’ she said.
‘If a single voice can achieve a complete review of a piece of legislation, then an independent voice within Parliament can achieve a great deal more, in some respects, than people who are tied into a party position.’
Prof Phelps was a champion for change and worked hard to lobby for changes to gay marriage laws, medical indemnity and adoption.
After she helped modernise the adoption laws her and her wife Jackie Stricker-Phelps were able to adopt their daughter Gabrielle.
Choosing to run as an independent means Prof Phelps will forgo any future opportunities at being a minister or holding any leadership position.
‘I can’t be told how to think. The reason that there is a surge in support for independents is because people want authenticity, integrity and honesty,’ she said.
After she helped modernise the adoption laws, Prof Phelps and her wife Jackie Stricker-Phelps (pictured together) were able to adopt their daughter Gabrielle
Her biggest hurdle will be overcoming political opponent and Liberal candidate Dave Sharma who was chosen ahead of Katherine O’Regan.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was forced to do an about face after initially saying he had backed Ms O’Regan for the Liberal candidacy after calls for more women in the party.
Despite being a front runner for the candidacy Ms O’Regan was knocked out in the third round of pre-selection with just 21 votes out of 201.
After hearing of Mr Sharma’s candidacy, Prof Phelps said she couldn’t believe the Liberals were not able to find someone from within the community to represent it.
The electorate was forced to go to a by-election following Malcolm Turnbull’s resignation after the Liberal leadership spill, which led to Mr Morrison becoming Prime Minister.
Prof Phelps’ biggest hurdle will be overcoming Liberal candidate and former ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma (pictured)
Sam Gunning will run for the seat for the Liberal Democrats while Dominic Kanak will be running for the Greens and Tim Murray will be running for Labor.
Prof Phelps was the first LGBT person to be elected to the presidency of the Australian Medical Association.
She said she was running for the seat of Wentworth to bring some ‘stability and common sense to a very volatile situation’ and aims to be a voice of reason in parliament.
Prof Phelps believes it’s time for Australians to stand up and be heard and to show Canberra they want change in the way politics are done.
The voters of Wentworth knew that Mr Turnbull was an advocate for same sex marriage, climate change and the republican cause but Prof Phelps said he had been hobbled by the policies of Canberra.