Liberals select Dr Rachel Swift as candidate in upcoming federal election

The Liberal Party has this morning pre-selected its candidate to run in Nicolle Flint’s seat of Boothby at the next federal election.

Rachel Swift says health and job security will be her priorities as she vies to hold Boothby for the Liberal Party at the next federal election.

Dr Swift, a health consultant and former Rhodes scholar aligned to the party’s moderate faction, has been selected as the Liberal candidate to run in the state’s only marginal seat.

The result is another blow for the conservative wing of the party in South Australia.

One senior Liberal said the result was “earth-shattering” for the conservatives in a seat long seen as the “jewel in the crown” for the Right faction.

Health Consultant Dr Rachel Swift.

The source claimed incumbent Nicolle Flint, of the Right, who is stepping down at the election, had spent the past fortnight haranguing members to support conservative rival and education executive Leah Blyth.

He believed that cost her 20-30 votes.

Dr Swift also overcome SA Police detective Shaun Osborne to win preselection on Saturday morning.

She scored 146 votes to Ms Blyth’s 94 and Mr Osborne’s 46.

Dr Swift said a key area of focus for her would be aged care and health, as well as jobs and economic security.

“Health was front of mind even before COVID-19, and I think it’s even more sharply in focus now,” she said.

“There’s obviously a continued need for us to work on what we offer in aged care, and I see that as being a sector that … also creates jobs.”

Dr Swift had been endorsed by SA’s most senior federal Liberal, Finance Minister Simon Birmingham, as well as other high-profile party figures including Treasurer Rob Lucas and Health Minister Stephen Wade.

Dr Swift ran for Senate preselection in February but missed out on a winnable spot on the ticket.

Boothby preselection candidate Leah Blyth.

Police detective Shaun Osborn.

Right faction figures argued their moderate rivals had spurned a multicultural mum and community-based candidate in Ms Blyth, in favour of someone who had come fourth in the Senate preselection race.

One conservative said it was petty to suggest there had been a protest vote over Ms Flint and her persistent lobbying for Ms Blyth, adding Ms Flint had a strong personal following within the electorate.

“You’re going to alienate a lot of people who like Nicolle by trying to smear her, which is politically unwise when it comes to the general election,” the source said.

Ms Flint did not address the protest vote claim but, in a statement, offered her full support to Dr Swift.

“There were three excellent candidates who nominated for pre-selection for Boothby, and Rachel Swift was chosen by our members,” she said.

“I will work as hard as I can to ensure that Boothby stays in Liberal hands.”