Bragg by-election date set for July

The date of the by-election that will choose a new MP to replace retiring Liberal veteran Vickie Chapman has been revealed.

The by-election to replace former state Attorney-General Vickie Chapman in her blue-ribbon southeastern suburbs seat of Bragg is set for early next month.

Lower House Speaker Dan Cregan is expected to announce to parliament today that writs will be issued for a poll tipped for July 2.

Ms Chapman formally resigned on Tuesday after 20 years as Bragg’s Liberal MP, in the party’s safest Adelaide seat.

The by-election could be contested by a field made up only of men, after the Greens revealed their candidate will be community campaigner Jim Bastiras.

Former attorney-general Vickie Chapman is due to quit politics on Tuesday despite winning her party’s only safe Adelaide electorate with a margin of 8.2 per cent at the state election. The by-election is likely to be held in July.

Mr Bastiras, a local resident, is a lecturer at the University of Adelaide College and chairman of Residents Against White Rock Quarry, a local community group fighting the expansion of mining into Horsnell Gully Conservation Park.

“My daughter features very much in my life and the way I think about the future,” he said.

“And so, because of that, doing something about climate change and doing something about the way we’re planning our suburbs is extremely important to me.”

Labor and the Liberals are yet to declare who their candidates will be, but Labor’s March state election candidate Rick Sarre has indicated he is willing to run again, and Jack Batty is considered a frontrunner for the Liberals.

Greens candidate in Bragg Jim Bastiras, with his wife Tsun Wu and daughter Artemis, 3. Picture: Kathryn Bermingham

Greens MLC Tammy Franks, who launched Mr Bastiras’ campaign on Monday, said she would be disappointed if the by-election were contested by a group of men.

“But … the Teals and the Greens aren’t the ones who have a woman problem, it’s the Liberal Party who has a women problem and, quite honestly, perhaps the people of Bragg will have a problem with the Liberals as a result,” she said.

She did not say whether any women and put their hand up for Greens preselection, but said the party put “the policies of the people before the pronouns”.

“The result is, actually, we have better representation,” she said.

“I think that the Greens job here is to represent the electorate of Bragg, the things that the people of Bragg care about, and we’ve already got three women elected in the state of South Australia.

“(We’ve got) one man so far and we’d like to add Jim to that and we’d like to keep going and turn many more once-safe seats into three corner contests.”

MLC Robert Simms, who was also at the launch, has said the party believes it can win the seat, and would aim to capitalise on concern about the climate and environment among locals.

“Off the back of record swings to the Greens in the state and federal elections, we are excited about our prospects in Bragg,” he said.

Liberals claim ‘dirty tricks’

Meanwhile, an internal “dirty tricks” row has hit the Liberal preselection for Bragg over the timing of voting.

Ms Chapman’s departure will leave just two female Liberal Party members in the lower house, and has sparked calls for a woman to replace her in seat.

Four candidates want to replace her after passing internal Liberal vetting, and they will now lobby more than 400 Bragg party members.

Former party staffers Jake Batty, 31, and Sandy Biar, 36, commercial lawyer Melissa Jones, 45, and businesswoman Cara Miller, 46, will face a specially convened vote on Sunday.

The winner will be the party’s preferred choice at the electorate’s third election this year, likely in early July.

Jack Batty, possible Liberal candidate for Bragg. Picture: Supplied

Lawyer Melissa Jones who is seeking preselection for the seat of Bragg to replace former attorney-general Vickie Chapman. Picture: Supplied

Sandy Biar pictured on Northumberland Avenue, Tusmore. The chairman of the Australian Republican Movement is seeking preselection. Picture: supplied

Cara Miller, also seeking Liberal preselection for Bragg. Pictures: Supplied

But Liberal insiders have questioned the “inconvenient” timing of this weekend’s 6pm Sunday night vote, which has been described as highly unusual, amid fears it will reduce turnout.

“It is a dirty tricks and a stitch-up,” one said.

“It is an elderly membership list. Would you rather be at home at 6pm by the fire or at a Liberal party preselection meeting in a cold hall on a freezing winter’s night?

Another source said: “The timing of the vote being at 6pm on a Sunday night is unheard of. “Normally preselections are held on a Saturday morning so that everyone can attend.

“The left faction are desperate to ensure they get their man.”

But a third source defended the timing.

“The date was chosen by state executive to ensure a candidate is chosen and able to campaign as soon as possible,” they said.

“All candidates are impacted in the same way.”

Former liberal staff Chelsey Potter.

The party’s executive review committee last week rejected former Liberal staffer, Chelsey Potter, 33, who is now considering running as a “teal” candidate.

Retiring state Liberal director Sascha Meldrum declined to comment on internal matters.