Member for Wentworth Kerryn Phelps has backed independent candidate for Warringah Zali Steggall, after the former Olympian and barrister announced on Saturday that she would challenge Tony Abbott in the upcoming federal election.
Ms Phelps, also an independent, told ABC News that Warringah would be a "very similar story to the by-election in Wentworth", where she came out ahead of Liberal candidate Dave Sharma - the first time since 1901 that the seat had not been held by the Liberal party.
Warringah has similarly voted conservative since 1922, with the former prime minister holding the seat since 1994.
"If anyone has been watching the commentary on Warringah over recent years, it has been very obvious that the mood in Warringah has changed and there has been a shift towards more progressive social policies," Dr Phelps said.
"And that's not being reflected in their current representation."
In an opinion article for the Sydney Morning Herald, Dr Phelps said the seats of Wentworth and Warringah "are neighbours without a land border".
"Like me, she [Zali Steggall] represents the sensible centre, the large part of the electorate that feels completely betrayed and abandoned by the current Liberal Party," she wrote.
In a similar move to Dr Phelps, Ms Steggal will make climate change policy a key issue, which according to attendees at the campaign launch, is what "this election is all about".
In another similarity, Anthony Reid, who managed Dr Phelps' Wentworth victory, will also head up Ms Steggall's election campaign.
Alice Thompson, a former adviser to Malcolm Turnbull, and former head of NITV Susan Moylan-Coombs have also announced they are running as independents in Warringah.
