Slew of SA independents mean voters are in the dark on real deals

Independents may well hold the balance of power after the election – but who are they and who would they support in the event of a hung parliament?

Coy independent candidates who could decide the next government won’t reveal which party they would back in the event of a hung parliament, sparking warnings against a “ragtag bunch” of crossbenchers dictating policies.

Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie – recently emboldened by a $200,000 donation from Climate 200 – argues that a hung parliament is “unlikely” and refused to say which party she would support.

But political experts are warning this scenario is becoming more possible after Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese’s car-crash first week of the election campaign.

Boothby candidate Jo Dyer, who is also running on the back of a $20,000 donation from Climate 200, did not commit to supporting either party, but said Scott Morrison was “unfit to be Prime Minister”.

Independent candidate for Boothby, Jo Dyer. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Mayo’s MP, independent Rebekha Sharkie. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Flinders University political scientist Professor Haydon Manning said it was “ridiculous” for independents to campaign for climate change action but not admit they would support Labor.

“If it’s just who has got the better policy on climate change, then they might as well say they are going to back Labor,” Professor Manning said. “You might as well … stop kidding us – it’s just ridiculous.”

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham warned voters against returning to the “Rudd-Gillard years”, where a Labor minority government was forced to “horse-trade every policy decision with the independents”.

“No matter how incoherent (Mr Albanese) may be today, if his policies were being dictated by a ragtag bunch of independents, then his incoherent policies could become quite dangerous – ones that hurt the economy and drive up taxes,” Senator Birmingham said.

Independent Grey candidate Liz Habermann did not respond to several calls from The Advertiser.

Flinders Uni’s Professor Haydon Manning. Picture Roger Wyman

Supplied Editorial Flinders Independent candidate Liz Habermann. Picture: Supplied

Linda Champion, who hopes to win Spence for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party, said she was “not especially inclined to support either” major party.

The Liberal Democrats also did not reveal who they would back in a hung parliament, nor did United Australia Party’s Boothby candidate Graeme Clark or Greens’ Boothby candidate Jeremy Carter.

Mr Morrison and Mr Albanese have ruled out making deals with crossbenchers.

Ms Sharkie said she would demand a “comprehensive strategy” delivering 450 gigalitres of fresh water promised to South Australia for the environment under the Murray- Darling Basin Plan.

“My allegiance is to the community of Mayo, not to any major party,” she said.

Ms Dyer said she would push for a National Integrity Commission and a 50 per cent reduction in net emissions by 2030.