Labor announces Cressida O’Hanlon will contest Dunstan by-election

After former premier Steven Marshall flagged his resignation on Wednesday, Labor has wasted no time selecting and announcing their by-election candidate.

Labor’s candidate at the upcoming Dunstan by-election, triggered by the resignation of former premier Steven Marshall, will be Norwood local Cressida O’Hanlon.

Ms O’Hanlon was officially endorsed at a special meeting of the ALP’s state executive held on Wednesday night.

She contested the seat at the 2022 state election, when she secured a 6.9 per cent swing to the Labor Party and Mr Marshall won with a 0.5 per cent margin.

She was also Labor’s candidate for Sturt at the 2019 federal election, but lost to Liberal James Stevens.

A date for the by-election will not be set until Mr Marshall officially submits his resignation, which he has flagged will happen in the coming months.

Dunstan by-election candidate Cressida O’Hanlon. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Premier Peter Malinauskas said Ms O’Hanlon is a “genuine local” who understands her community and has the energy, intelligence, background and skills to make a real difference.

“Should they choose Cressida to represent them, the voters of Dunstan can have confidence that she will fiercely advocate for their interests at the highest levels of government,” he said.

“Our task is Herculean – no government has won a seat off the opposition at a by-election since the Northern Territory was a part of our state.

“However, in Cressida O’Hanlon the South Australian Labor Party has an opportunity to put our best foot forward in this by-election, whenever it occurs.”

Ms O’Hanlon said she was honoured to represent the community as the Labor candidate for Dunstan.

“I believe in community and I know that communities thrive when people’s lives are meaningful, when people have opportunity, and when they have the means for connection,” she said.

Meanwhile, Liberal Party state director Alex May confirmed that nominations for Liberal pre-selection opened on Wednesday and would close 5pm Thursday.

“The Liberal Party looks forward to offering the people of Dunstan a new and dedicated local representative to continue the hard work of Steven Marshall,” she said.

Lawyer and former staffer Dr Anna Finizio has been touted as a frontrunner in the contest.

Originally published as Labor announces Cressida O’Hanlon will contest Dunstan by-election