High-profile doctor Kerryn Phelps to stand as independent in battle for Wentworth

SHE’S changed laws on gay marriage, medical indemnity and adoption — all from outside of Canberra. Now high-profile doctor Kerryn Phelps wants a seat at the political table — as an independent in Malcolm Turnbull’s old seat.

• Issues that will decide the fate of Wentworth

SHE’s changed laws on gay marriage, medical indemnity and adoption — all from outside of Canberra.

Now, high-profile doctor, Kerryn Phelps wants a seat at the political table and will today announce she’s running as an independent for Malcolm Turnbull’s old seat.

The 60-year-old former Australian Medical Association president told The Sunday Telegraph she wants to become the MP for Wentworth to “represent the sensible centre”.

She would not, she said, block supply, and said the possibility of forming a partnership with the government if it lost its majority was “a long bow to draw”.

Kerryn Phelps (centre) with partner Jackie Stricker-Phelps and daughter Gabrielle at their Potts Point home. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

MORE FROM SHARRI MARKSON

Turnbull’s snipes could destroy his own legacy

Beside her as she announced her bid for the October 20 by-election was her wife Jackie Stricker-Phelps, who she wed in New York in 1998, and their daughter Gabi, who the couple fostered and later adopted.

The couple was allowed to adopt after Professor Phelps’ tireless lobbying for a law change. It was an ­experience that provided an insight into the mechanics of influence and a desire to be closer to the big game.

While Liberal candidate Dave Sharma is supported by former PM John Howard, Prof Phelps does not concede she would have less influence as an independent MP.

“As in independent person, over a period of weeks I was able to achieve a full Senate inquiry into the My Health record,” she said.

“You don’t stand as an independent expecting to get involved in power plays.” Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“If a single voice can achieve a complete review of a piece of legislation, then an independent voice within Parliament can achieve a great deal more, in some respects, than people who are tied into a party position.”

As Australian Medical Association president, Prof Phelps said she had to be “fearless and bipartisan” when negotiating policy, such as medical indemnity, with then prime minister John Howard and the Labor state and territory governments.

Asked if she would consider forming a coalition or partnership with the federal government, such as independent Winston Peters had done in New Zealand, if Peter Dutton was referred to the High Court and Mr Morrison lost his one-seat majority, Prof Phelps said it was “a long bow to draw”.

Kerryn Phelps will run for the seat of Wentworth in the by-election as an independent. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“You don’t stand as an independent expecting to get involved in power plays,” she said.

“It’s for authentic representation of my community and the country. It’s the only reason I’m doing this. And to be a modifying influence on the extreme right-wing agenda.”

The City of Sydney councillor also said she won’t block supply to the government because “I am not here to bring down a government.

“I am here to bring some stability and common sense to a very volatile situation and to bring a voice of reason to the Australian Parliament.”

Admitting it will be tough to win the blue-ribbon Liberal seat, she said: “I’ve never been shy of a challenge.”

“This is a time for the Australian people to send a message to Canberra that they need to rethink the way politics is done,” she said.

Kerryn Phelps and Jackie Stricker-Phelps renew their wedding vows in January. Picture: Dylan Robinson

“They need to be thinking less about power-plays and factional backstabbing and more about what they’re there to do which is to manage the Australian economy and to display some heart.

“Things like the future of our health system, climate policy, lifelong education, a strong economy, what’s happening in aged care, how we are treating asylum seekers, these are the issues that go to the heart of the Australian people and I think it’s time for a strong independent voice to speak out about those issues,” she said.

Her toughest competition over the five-week campaign will be Mr Sharma, who won preselection on Thursday night, despite not having the support of Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

“It beggars belief that they couldn’t find an appropriate candidate to represent Wentworth from within the community,” Professor Phelps said of Mr Sharma, who lives in Sydney’s upper north shore.

Liberal candidate for Wentworth Dave Sharma with wife Rachel Lord and daughters (from left) Daphne, Estella and Diana at Rushcutters Bay Park.

Shunning the major parties and choosing to run for politics as an independent means Professor Phelps is sacrificing the chance to be a future minister or hold a leadership position, however she said she would rather fight for the issues she believes in.

She points out that voters in his electorate knew Mr Turnbull supported gay marriage, climate change action and becoming a republic but he was “nobbled by the policies of the parties” - even in the top job.

“I can’t be told how to think. The reason that there is a surge in support for independents is because people want authenticity, integrity and honesty,” she said.

“The party system and the lack of conscience voting for quite often what should be conscience issues is really skewing the processes in parliament and forcing people to vote against their better judgement and the best interests of their own communities.”

Kerryn Phelps: “I can’t be told how to think.” Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Some of Australia’s wealthiest businessmen like Solomon Lew and David Gonski have lined up behind Mr Sharma, who is pitching himself as Australia’s Barack Obama, while Professor Phelps will rely on crowd-funding for her campaign along with her own financial contribution.

“I think my strong professional and family connections in Wentworth will certainly have an influence but because I’m an independent it will be a steep hill to climb, and I will be relying on a grassroots campaign because we don’t have the resources, volunteers or funding of a major party,” she said.

“There’s a lot of people in Wentworth who know me, because I’ve been a doctor in the local area for almost 20 years and we are very, very strongly connected to the community but it will still be a big challenge.”

Professor Phelps, Alex Greenwich and Christine Forster have differing political beliefs but were on the same side for the marriage equality debate. Picture: John Appleyard

The Liberals are already warning voters in Wentworth that backing an independent could see an early election, risking a Bill Shorten prime ministership.

In response to this, Professor Phelps says if she wins she will not to block supply for the Morrison Government.

“I am not here to bring down a government. I am here to bring some stability and common-sense to a very volatile situation and to bring a voice of reason to the Australian Parliament,” she said.

“If there is a Labor Government (at the next election) then I think the people of Wentworth might have to consider whether they would be better off with a strong independent voice.”

After announcing her candidacy, Professor Phelps will likely have conversations with other parties about preferences, but, at this point, said she is reluctant to allocate any herself.

On the likelihood of a backlash in Wentworth to the Liberal Party after Mr Turnbull was rolled by conservative MPs, Professor Phelps said the sense she gets from locals is “anger and frustration and despair”.

Jacki Stricker-Phelps with Dr Phelps and daughter Gabi, who was the first non-relative adoption in NSW to a same-sex couple.

Mr Turnbull was a popular local member, winning 62 per cent of the two-party-preffered vote at the last federal election.

“The fundamental question that hasn’t been answered is why is Wentworth going to a by-election,” she said.

“We still don’t have an answer as to why Turnbull was overthrown. I think it lacks a rationale. Most Australians are shaking their heads.”

After his downfall, Professor Phelps said she was approached by “hundreds of people” in Wentworth, encouraging her to run, and she gave it “careful consideration.”

“They are absolutely frustrated as I am with the antics of the major parties,” she said.

Asked if she would consider forming a coalition or partnership with the Federal Government like Independent Winston Peters had done in New Zealand, if Peter Dutton was referred to the High Court and Mr Morrison lost his one-seat majority, Professor Phelps said it was “a long bow to draw.”

Professor Phelps said she believed the influence of the far-right of the Liberal Party on policies like climate change and religious protections was a concern to voters in Wentworth.

“I’m science-trained. Climate change is real and we can do something about action. The people who are saying it’s not real are like people who were insisting the earth is flat,” she said.

Describing Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as strong role models for women in politics, Professor Phelps, a mother-of-three and grandmother, applauded the “courage” of female Liberals who had spoken out against bullying within their party.

As she fights for her chance to enter Parliament, she said she knows it is a “toxic workplace”.

“Any CEO that said to women you just have to toughen-up, would not last as CEO for very long because there are workplace laws that should be dealing with this sort of behaviour,” she said.

Professor Phelps declined to say how she had voted in the past, describing it as a “very personal thing.”

“I have very strong values that I’ve articulated over a long period of time and I stand on my record,” she said.

Originally published as High-profile doctor Kerryn Phelps to stand as independent in battle for Wentworth