Anti-violence campaigner Nat Cook will be Labor’s candidate in the by-election sparked by the death of independent MP Bob Such.
However, the announcement of the star candidate is at risk of being overshadowed by debate about the timing of the two upcoming by-elections, in Such’s seat of Fisher and the neighbouring seat of Davenport, soon to be vacated by Liberal stalwart Iain Evans.
Voters in the South Australian seat of Fisher will go to the polls in December, with the Liberal Party still to select a candidate.
Such died just over a week ago after being diagnosed with a brain tumour six months ago.
Speaker Michael Atkinson said on Monday that he would issue writs for a by-election to be held in Fisher, in Adelaide’s south, on Saturday December 6.
Cook founded the Sammy D Foundation with her husband Neil Davis following the death of their son Sam Davis from a one-punch assault in 2008.
Premier Jay Weatherill said Cook had been selected as Labor’s candidate after a special meeting of the ALP State Executive on Monday.
“Nat has been an outstanding advocated for her local community for a long time and I am thrilled that she has decided to take the step into politics,” Weatherill said.
Cook is an after-hours nursing coordinator at Flinders Medical Centre.
Atkinson said that another by-election in the neighbouring seat of Davenport would not be held on the same day, despite Evans confirming he would resign at the end of the month.
The Speaker said he was yet to receive a formal statement of resignation from Evans.
In a statement on Monday, Evans said he would resign on October 30, having previously outlined plans to retire in the coming months.
“With the Fisher by-election announced for December 6 it makes sense to hold both by-elections on the same day,” he said.
“As a consequence I have brought forward my retirement date to facilitate that option.”
Atkinson had a different view and quickly found himself at odds with the State’s Electoral Commissioner Kay Mousley.
“Her preferred option was not to have an election this year,” Atkinson told ABC Radio today.
Mousley, however, had earlier told ABC presenter David Bevan that her preferred option was “to get both of them out of the way this year”.
Atkinson remained unmoved.
“I’ve made my decision; I’m going to take responsibility for it.”
University of Adelaide lecturer Clem MacIntyre said he expected the Liberals to win both Davenport and Fisher but an independent candidate could draw strong support.
Sam Duluk will be the Liberal candidate for Davenport.
