Louise Miller Frost announced as Labor candidate who will take on Rachel Swift in battle for Boothby

The residents of Boothby – SA’s most marginal federal electorate – will have a choice between two women new to politics at next year’s election.

Female candidates representing both major parties will go head-to-head to contest the state’s most marginal seat at the upcoming federal election.

Louise Miller Frost was on Saturday confirmed as the Labor Party’s candidate in the southern suburbs electorate of Boothby, after the Liberal Party preselected Dr Rachel Swift in May.

Ms Miller Frost served as the chief executive of St Vincent de Paul Society SA for the past 18 months, a role she took after a long career in the government and not-for-profit sectors, but has resigned to focus on the campaign.

Louise Miller Frost, who most recently served as chief executive of St Vincent de Paul Society SA, has been named Labor’s candidate for Boothby. Picture: Brenton Edwards

She declared the seat, which has been held by the Liberal Party since 1949, was “definitely winnable”, and said her number one priority as a member of parliament would be emerging strongly from the pandemic.

“By that I mean, in terms of safety for health but also, absolutely, the economy,” she said.

“We need opportunities for our current generation but also for our children and grandchildren.

“We need to know that our economy is secure and that people have fair opportunities across the board.”

Ms Miller Frost said she also wanted to see a “rational” response to climate change.

“I think that burying our heads in the sand is not going to work and that’s becoming increasingly more obvious as we see the weather events across the world, but also the changes in our international trade partners and the way they are decarbonising.”

The 54-year-old said she does not currently live in the electorate but said was actively looking to buy a property and would move regardless of whether she wins the seat.

Dr Rachel Swift will contest the seat for the Liberals.

Sitting Boothby MP Nicolle Flint announced in February she was quitting federal politics.

She won the seat by 1.4 per cent at the last election.

Dr Swift, who was backed by the moderate faction of the party, has said her focus as a candidate remains on speaking with the community to identify local priorities.

“The community is telling me they want someone with experience in health and aged care, an ability to deliver on the economy, a commitment to action on climate change and the strength to fight for all South Australians delivering, in full, the Murray Darling Basin Plan,” she said.