Embattled MLA Elizabeth Kikkert, who was sensationally disendorsed by the Canberra Liberals earlier this month, will run again in Ginninderra.
The two-term MLA will stand for the Family First, a national, conservative, Christian party that is fielding candidates in all five electorates in the ACT on October 19.
Kikkert, the top vote-getter for the Liberals in Gininderra, was accused of breaching the Electoral Act 1992 around disclosure of donations and electoral expenditure and having exposed the party to potential workplace claims.
“I strongly disagree with the allegations that the Liberal Party have made and… I am currently seeking legal advice,” she says.
“[Family First] understood where I was coming from and I think because they know how politics work, they probably felt that this was just a political game.”
Kikkert, a devoted Mormon, has less than a month to the election, but says she’s “very optimistic”.
“I do have amazing people who are there to help me and I do have a pretty good idea on how to campaign grassroots wise – door knocking and being at the shops,” she says.
“When I first learned that I was disendorsed I felt a sense of peace, but injustice at the same time. It was very clear to me that not running in the upcoming election is not an option. So I knew I was going to run, I just didn’t know who with.
“When I learnt about Family First, I just loved that name because that’s who I am. I always put my family first,” says the mother of five.
“Putting the family first as a number one priority when you’re coming up with policies, with laws to implement.
“It was easy for me to join the party because of their values.
“People are disappointed about what has happened and have asked me consistently what am I going to do now and please do not give up politics and that I’ve been a really good, strong advocate for them in the Legislative Assembly.
“And they don’t want to see my political life come to an end like that.”
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