Fairfax candidate Francine Wiig reveals top election priorities

In her first media interview, a climate 200-backed independent candidate has revealed her agenda ahead of the federal election.

Australian Electoral Commission staff sorting through the votes for the 2022 Federal Election.

A climate 200-backed independent candidate has revealed her top priorities ahead of the federal election, claiming voters in the historically safe LNP seat have an “appetite for change”.

Business owner and former TAFE teacher Francine Wiig has lived on the Sunshine Coast for the past 20 years with her husband and two children.

Ms Wiig said a desire to better represent the voters in the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax, who have “ been missing out for so long”, was what pushed her to run in the upcoming federal election.

Independent candidate for Fairfax, Francine Wiig, is confident voters are looking for change.

According to Ms Wiig, the community in Fairfax “have worries” about the LNP’s controversial plan for nuclear energy.

“What I’m hearing from the community is that they have worries, they are concerned about the nuclear agenda, they are worried about how fast it can be delivered and how much it will cost,” Ms Wiig said.

Ms Wiig said the opposition’s nuclear plan wasn’t the right fit for Australia, but emphasised she would be looking to work on policies for alternative energy sources, if elected.

“They are really worried about plans for a nuclear reactor 87 km from Kenilworth, there will be a reactor in our backyard,” Ms Wiig said.

Ms Wiig said bringing the region’s housing crisis to the top of the government’s agenda, along with addressing the shortage of GPs was also on her list of priorities if elected.

“We are one of very few electorates in Australia that have zero bulk-billing GPs available, it is a real symptom of being a safe political seat,” Ms Wiig said.

Fairfax MP and shadow minister for climate change and energy Ted O’Brien has held the seat for eight years. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Incumbent Fairfax MP and shadow minister for climate change and energy, Ted O’Brien, has held the LNP safe seat for eight years.

However, Ms Wiig is confident there is an “appetite for change” in the community.

“When I first started getting involved with this my first goal was to make the seat marginal because marginal seats get more money and more attention,” Ms Wiig said.

“But what we have found now is there is a huge appetite for change on the Sunshine Coast, people do feel forgotten.”

While Ms Wiig is happy to disclose her campaign has received funding from Climate 200, she rejects the “teal” label.

“It is important to remember there is no political party, I’m not a member of any party,” Ms Wiig said.