Institute of Public Affairs senior director Daniel Wild preselected in Spence by SA Liberals for Australian federal election

A senior member of the conservative thinktank has been tapped to try to chip away at the massive Labor margin.

The Liberal party has drawn its Wild card in the safe Labor seat of Spence, preselecting an Institute of Public Affairs senior director, Daniel Wild to represent them at the next federal election.

The electorate of Spence covers suburbs north of Adelaide’s including Salisbury, Elizabeth, Munno Para and Gawler.

Spence is currently held by Labor MP Matt Burnell by a significant margin of 12.9 per cent.

Mr Wild has worked at the IPA, a conservative think-tank, for six years, where he currently serves as its deputy executive director.

Daniel Wild speaks at the IPA’s CPAC convention in Brisbane. Picture: NewsWire/ Richard Gosling

Daniel Wild has been preselected by the Liberal party for the electorate of Spence. Picture: Supplied

A Liberal party spokesman said Mr Wild has had prior experience with the federal government, previously working for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet as a macroeconomic policy advisor and with the Department of Finance.

Mr Wild spoke of his humble beginning in Adelaide.

“The suburbs of Adelaide gave me a great start in life, where I worked for local businesses, from washing cars in a card yard, to working with my father on major industrial sites,“ Mr Wild said.

The born and bred South Australian used his preselection to draw attention to the current cost-of-living crisis.

“Here in Spence, and across South Australia we are paying the highest power prices in the nation, which flows on to affect our soaring grocery bills,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is yet to pull the trigger on the Federal election which must be held before May 17.

Some pundits are predicting an early April election is more likely, with April 5 or April 12 suggested as possible dates.

Originally published as Institute of Public Affairs senior director Daniel Wild preselected in Spence by SA Liberals for Australian federal election