Opposition Leader Peter Dutton confirms Nicolle Flint’s comeback as Boothby Liberal candidate

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will appear alongside Nicolle Flint in Adelaide to confirm her political comeback.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will confirm Nicolle Flint’s comeback as the Liberal candidate in the crucial marginal seat of Boothby, appearing alongside the former MP in Adelaide on Wednesday.

In a whistlestop Adelaide visit, Mr Dutton will also formally declare Amy Grantham and Irena Zagladov as the candidates for the safe Labor seats of Adelaide and Makin respectively.

Nicolle Flint will return as the Liberal candidate for Boothby. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Ms Flint held Boothby from 2016 to 2022, when she abruptly quit federal politics citing burnout, abuse, harassment and significant health issues.

Declaring South Australians were hurting under the Albanese Labor government, Mr Dutton said the three candidates were “accomplished and hardworking people” who would be fighting hard ahead of an election expected early next year.

Ms Flint claimed a track record of achievement in Boothby, won by Labor’s Louise Miller-Frost at the 2022 election with a 3.3 per cent margin.

“I stepped down at the 2022 election due to the impact of serious health challenges. My health is now back on track but the nation isn’t,” she said.

Mr Dutton is scheduled to appear alongside the three candidates at an Adelaide press conference on Wednesday morning.

Flint abruptly quit politics citing burnout and health issues. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Ms Flint first declared an interest in returning to politics last September, signalling she would consider standing for parliament again if the Liberals wanted her by telling SA Weekend: “Whatever I can do to assist, I will do”.

She initially was poised for a bid to wrest back her party’s previous South-East stronghold of MacKillop, where her family has farmed for generations.

Opposition Leader David Speirs last September said her “talent and ideas would be welcomed back” in his state Liberal Party room, declaring Ms Flint “a great friend” with whom he had worked closely for years.

But Ms Flint in March effectively ruled out a tilt at MacKillop and repositioned for a bid to recapture her former seat of Boothby.

Ms Grantham returns as the Adelaide candidate, having been defeated in 2022 by Labor’s Steve Georganas with an 11.9 per cent margin.

Ms Zagladov is a Tea Tree Gully councillor, whose biography says she is a self-employed consultant.