Independent candidate for Flinders, Ben Smith, says the battle for the federal seat is tighter than expected, with internal polling showing he is running level with incumbent Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie.
Speaking ahead of his official campaign launch this Sunday, Mr Smith highlighted the growing support for his campaign, revealing that his volunteer base has now surpassed 500 people.
Despite receiving funding from Climate 200, a group supporting independent candidates, Mr Smith downplayed the significance of the financial backing, emphasising the strength of local donations.
“It’s really important to have the support of Climate 200 and their 45,000 community donors to make sure there’s a level playing field because, as we know, the major parties have hundreds of millions of dollars to spend in these elections, and we’re nowhere near that,”
He told RPP FM.
“We’re starting from zero. So for me, it’s been really exciting to see the response from the local community as well. We’ve had well over 300 local people donate to our campaign—some donating $10 or $20, others in the thousands.”
Mr Smith’s campaign focuses on climate action, political transparency, and stronger community representation. With the federal election expected to be called later this year, the Flinders contest is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in the region.
