Liberals preselect Dr Anna Finizio for seat of Dunstan after Steven Marshall quits

The Liberals have chosen who they think can keep ex-premier Steven Marshall’s eastern suburbs seat in their hands, while a third candidate joins the three-way race of women.

The state’s most marginal seat of Dunstan will be a contest between three women after the Liberal Party’s Dr Anna Finizio was preselected unopposed to try to hold the seat held by outgoing former premier Steven Marshall.

The Greens have also confirmed their candidate as Payneham resident Katie McCusker, who has previously run at both state and federal level for the party.

Dr Finizio, 37, a single lawyer who lives in the electorate and went to Annesley College, wasted no time in naming “ramping” and “cost of living” as key issues for the looming by-election.

A former political adviser to Liberal ministers, Dr Finizio previously ran unsuccessfully for the western suburbs federal seat of Hindmarsh but says she is “deeply entrenched” in the eastern suburbs.

Anna Finizio will run for the Liberals at the upcoming Dunstan by-election. Picture: Emma Brasier

Labor has again selected local businesswoman and mother-of-four Cressida O’Hanlon, 51, who almost wrested the seat off Mr Marshall at the 2022 election.

The seat now sits on wafer-thin margin of 0.5 per cent after a swing of 6.9 per cent in the notoriously volatile seat saw Mr Marshall retain it by just 260 votes.

Liberal leader David Speirs, who has faced criticism of the dearth of female Liberal representatives in the House of Assembly, said Dr Finizio was “energetic, enthusiastic and experienced”.

Dr Finizio with Liberal leader David Speirs at Norwood. Picture: Brad Crouch

He called on voters in Dunstan to send a strong message to the government that “this is a referendum on ramping”.

Dr Finizio is the granddaughter of Italian and Maltese migrants and works as a manager for a strategic policy advisory firm

“It’s an honour to be representing the Liberal Party as our candidate in Dunstan. As a local I am passionate about our vibrant community and its future potential,” Dr Finizio said.

“I hope to earn the trust of the people of Dunstan to continue the hard work, service and dedication of Steven Marshall to our community.”

Dr Finizio, when pressed, said she was a member of the party’s moderate faction but did not have a firm view on local issues such as a tram up The Parade, or removing the median strip trees, which are causing traffic hazards due to roots forcing up the bitumen.

Labor has selected Cressida O'Hanlon, who almost toppled Steven Marshall in 2022, as its candidate for Dunstan. Picture: Tait Schmaal

She cited “cost of living” as her key priority as well as ramping.

“I am looking forward to speaking with many local residents over the coming months about their priorities for our local area and about the challenges facing our state such as cost-of-living pressures and a strained health system,” she said.

“This is (voters’) opportunity to send the government a strong message and if they elect me to represent them, I’ll be holding this government to account every single day.

“I’m young, I’m fresh, I’m energetic and I’m ready to join David and his young and dynamic team.”

Greens candidate Katie McCusker, pictured in campaign material for the 2010 state election when she ran for the seat of Norwood, which is now called Dunstan.

Mr Marshall has not yet formally submitted his resignation and so there is no date yet for the by election.

Meanwhile, the Greens have confirmed Ms McCusker as the party’s candidate for Dunstan at the by-election as they seek to make it a genuine three-way contest.

Ms McCusker contested the federal seat of Sturt in 2022 and also stood for the Greens in Dunstan – when it was then known as the seat of Norwood – at the 2010 state election.

The Greens are hopeful of garnering further support in the affluent inner-eastern suburbs seat after securing a swing of 4.7 per cent in the 2022 state election.

The party also secured a swing of 5.2 per cent in the federal seat of Sturt, much of which overlaps the state seat of Dunstan, at the 2022 federal election.

“Locals are telling me they are concerned about soaring rents, the cost of living and what our leaders are doing to tackle the climate crisis,” Ms McCusker said.

“My message to the people of Dunstan in this by-election is we can make history, but nothing changes if your vote doesn’t. Together, we can create a better future for all of us.”

Originally published as Liberals preselect Dr Anna Finizio for seat of Dunstan after Steven Marshall quits