Ali France, the woman who unseated the leader of the opposition to take out the seat of Dickson in Queensland
In an extraordinary turn of events, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton not only lost the election, but the seat he has held since 2001.
Australians woke up on Sunday morning, all asking the same question: Who is the Labor candidate who unseated the leader of the Liberal National Party?
Ali France, a former journalist and world champion para-athlete, made the historic win in the division of Dickson on her third attempt campaigning for the seat.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The 49-year-old Arana Hills local and disability advocate said she and her family have experienced firsthand the importance of Medicare and disability support.
France lost her leg in a horrific accident in 2011, after an elderly driver hit accelerate instead of reverse in a shopping centre car park, pinning her to a wall, as her infant son became trapped beneath the car.
Tragedy struck again when France lost her eldest son Henry, 19, to leukaemia in early 2024, after spending 18 months by his side in Hospital.
Her former partner, Clive France, also died of cancer less than six-months before their son.
Now a single parent to her son Zac, France said she understands how hard it can be to juggle the pressures of rising bills.
On Saturday, Labor volunteer Hannah said she had been supporting France since her first campaign in 2019.
“I just want a really good progressive, positive candidate for Dickson, and that’s why I’m working for Ali,” she said.
“She has lived experience of Medicare and the benefits it’s brought to her, and she’s really frightened about it becoming a worse problem under an LNP, Peter Dutton led government.
“I want a candidate who stands for the people in this electorate. I’ve been with Ali since she started campaigning.
When asked what it would mean to her personally if France won, Hannah said she was almost too scared to hope, because her heart had been broken before.
“I would be in tears, and I would just be really happy to have a positive, energetic, kind, caring woman who represents me.”
In a heartfelt post to social media on Sunday, France thanked her community.
“Thank you, Dickson voters, thank you,” she said.
“I will do you proud.”
Originally published on 7NEWS
