Independent Alex Dyson lays out priorities for eastern end of Wannon

An independent, hoping to claim a slice of Liberal heartland bigger than Belgium, has opened up on his priorities for the region … and his Uber rating.

Wannon candidate Alex Dyson. Picture: Supplied

An independent with sights on a slice Liberal heartland is still finding time to keep his five-star Uber rating while listening to the concerns of a seat larger than Belgium.

Ex-Triple J presenter Alex Dyson is in the midst of his third federal campaign in the seat of Wannon, which has been firmly in Liberal hands since Malcolm Fraser won it in 1955.

But after falling 7.84 per cent short of long-time incumbent Dan Tehan in 2022, Mr Dyson believes momentum is on his side.

“I’m so excited,” Mr Dyson said.

“It’s exhausting, but the energy you get from well-meaning locals who just want to make a difference in their electorate, it’s the thing that’s keeping me going.”

Wannon candidate Alex Dyson speaks with school kids on the street in Portland during the election campaign. Picture: Kate Dowler

Wannon spans all the way from Anglesea and Winchelsea in the east, to the South Australian border in the west.

Mr Dyson said that while the biggest focus for the electorate was roads, housing shaped as a major issue for the Great Ocean Road region.

“We need to make sure people are able to get into affordable housing, so we’re having discussions with locals and the Surf Coast Shire to make sure areas like that can continue to be one of the best places to live,” he said.

“But something that’s across the whole of Wannon is the state of our roads.”

Another one of Mr Dyson’s main pitches to voters is his independence, meaning he is able to work across both sides of the aisle.

Wannon hopeful Alex Dyson.

“(Incumbent MP Dan Tehan) went on radio recently and said that he’s been unable to deliver projects when he’s not in government,” Mr Dyson said.

“It’s a tale as old as time, but the latest polling shows that there’s a 2 per cent chance of the Coalition getting into government nationally.

“So when it comes to who can work with either side of the aisle, I think the smart decision is to vote independent.”

Despite receiving almost $500,000 from Climate 200, Mr Dyson has veered away from using teal, opting to use orange kelpies as his campaign mascot.

Away from the trail, Mr Dyson has kept up his side job as an Uber driver throughout the campaign.

“Still at five (stars), yet to have a hiccup yet,” he said.

Mr Dyson got creative last election in bringing attention to the region’s roads. Picture: Facebook

“It’s been nice meeting people that way.”

Mr Dyson’s rival Mr Tehan, a 15-year MP and Coalition spokesman for immigration and citizenship, said he was focusing on running a positive campaign.

“Voting Liberal or National is a vote to actually fix the potholes in our roads and properly fund road maintenance,” Mr Tehan said.

“A vote for an independent, Greens or Labor candidate is a vote for an Albanese Labor Government controlled by the Greens and Adam Bandt.”

Mr Tehan’s frontbench colleague Angus Taylor weighed into the Wannon battle during a fleeting visit to Geelong this week.

Mr Tehan has been an MP for 15-years. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The Coalition’s treasury spokesman said the voting record of teal MPs showed they were left-leaning, rather than independent as they claim to be.

Mr Taylor added that Wannon was representative of a growing trend towards hyper-local campaigns.

“There is a premium now on local representation and being a strong local member, and I think Dan is an incredibly strong local member,” he said.

“He has always been very, very assertive in fighting for Wannon and I think for that reason he will win out … these are important democratic fights.”

Originally published as Independent Alex Dyson lays out priorities for eastern end of Wannon