Election 2022: Liberal John Spender’s blessing for daughter’s bid to unseat Dave Sharma

Former Liberal frontbencher John Spender has blessed his daughter’s tilt as an independent in the moneyed seat of Wentworth.

Former Liberal frontbencher John Spender. Picture: Ryan Osland

Former Liberal frontbencher John Spender has blessed his daughter’s tilt as an independent in the moneyed seat of Wentworth.

The InterContinental Hotel in Sydney’s Double Bay was awash with teal shirts on Thursday night for the official launch of Allegra Spender’s campaign to unseat Liberal MP Dave Sharma.

Former ABC presenter and Wentworth local Emma Alberici was the MC.

Mr Spender, the former Liberal member for North Sydney and shadow cabinet minister under John Howard and Andrew Peacock, said his daughter had all the attributes for a good political life. “And I stress the word good,” he said in a video message. “You’re in there for your country, you’re not in there for yourself.”

Organisers estimated about 600 people attended the event.

Mr Spender, who lost his seat to an independent, Ted Mack, in 1990, said his daughter, one of three children he had with late fashion designer Carla Zampatti, had a natural warmth, was an independent thinker, a hard worker and always stood up for what she believed was right. “I think she’s bloody great,” he said.

Former independent Wentworth MP Kerryn Phelps said Ms Spender was the right person to represent the electorate.

“Imagine what could be achieved if Allegra joined a strong crossbench,” she said.

Former Nine Entertainment chairman David Haslingden said if Australia was going to remain the lucky country it needed a coherent federal policy on climate change

“We just don’t (have a coherent climate policy) by a long shot and it’s not good enough,” he said.