Election 2022: Former ABC radio host Alex Dyson proves a hit with activists

The Climate 200 group has backed in its latest candidate, former Triple J radio host Alex Dyson, who will challenge Dan Tehan in his seat of Wannon in regional Victoria.

Former Triple J presenter Alex Dyson.

The Climate 200 group has backed in its latest candidate, former Triple J radio host Alex Dyson, who will challenge Trade Minister Dan Tehan in his seat of Wannon in regional Victoria.

Mr Dyson was added to the list of Climate 200 independent candidates last week. The list features sitting MPs Andrew Wilkie and Rebekha Sharkie, as well as Adelaide Writers Week director Jo Dyer, who is running in the South Australian seat of Boothby along with 14 other independents.

Mr Dyson ran as an independent at the 2019 election in the same seat. He is campaigning at the 2022 election on greater climate action, honesty and transparency in government, and better protection for women.

It comes after an illustrious radio career during which he co-hosted Triple J’s breakfast show alongside comic Tom Ballard. Mr Dyson then joined Matt Okine to launch the show Matt & Alex All Day Breakfast, which streams daily.

Wannon is a safe Liberal seat held on a comfortable margin of 10.4 per cent, with Mr Tehan representing the electorate since 2010. Labor’s candidate for Wannon is former bricklayer Gilbert Wilson, who has served on the Glenelg Shire Council.

The Greens, United Australia Party and Liberal Democrats also have candidates in the seat.

Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes a Court, son of the late ­resources billionaire Robert Holmes a Court, has raised more than $7m from 8000 donors but maintains the money comes with “no strings attached”.

Recent figures disclosed by ­independents reveal some of them – such as Ms Sharkie who is running for the South Australian seat of Mayo – have already ­received hundreds of thousands of dollars for their campaigns.

Mr Holmes a Court would not say who Climate 200-backed candidates would support in a hung parliament and that decisions would be for “each of them individually”. “My personal opinion doesn’t matter because I won’t be in parliament,” he said at the National Press Club.

Independent candidate for the West Australian seat of Curtin Kate Chaney said she would “negotiate with both major parties on my stated platform ­issues and support the party that best delivers on those priorities to my electorate”.

Sophie Scamps, the independent candidate for Mackellar in Sydney’s northern suburbs, said in the event of a hung parliament “it will be up to each party to gain my support”.

“Before making my decision, I need to see the full policies of the Coalition and Labor, and what they are offering on the issues that matter most,” she said.

Carolyn Heise, independent for Cowper, said her focus was “on policy, not personality”.

It follows comments by Zali Steggall which indicated that she would be more inclined to support the Coalition if Scott Morrison was not the Liberal leader.