Who is Ali France, the woman who wants to take on Peter Dutton

AFTER years of living in fear after a ­shocking near-death experience, Ali France is now a motivational speaker, disability advocate and a contender to take on Peter Dutton at the next federal election.

Ali France wants to run against Peter Dutton at the next federal election. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

AFTER years of living in fear after a ­shocking near-death experience, Brisbane ­amputee Ali France is now a motivational speaker and disability advocate.

Ms France, 44, of Ashgrove, in Brisbane’s inner west, almost died after being hit by a car at a shopping centre in 2011.

Ali France lost her leg after being hit by a car at a shopping centre. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

Her then four-year-old son was also trapped under the vehicle and France spent years after losing her leg suffering debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder, ­relentless pain and multiple surgeries.

Ms France finally revealed the details of the horror accident to Qweekend last June and said it was a turning point.

“It was a huge step for me to tell my story but, once it was out, it was cathartic,’’ she said. “I had so much positive feedback and that in itself gave me strength to continue to tell my story. It was like a new beginning.’’

Since then, Ms France has become an in-demand motivational speaker and has been elected Queensland convenor of Labor Enabled, an association of the Labor Party for people with disabilities to influence and formulate policy.

In January, Ms France spoke in front of hundreds of people in King George Square for the Women’s March Brisbane. She’s also added a new outrigger canoeing world champion title to her name.

If all that were not enough, she has put her hand up for Labor preselection to take on Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton in the federal seat of Dickson.

“People with a disability have been left out of the political process for too long,” she said.