Hundreds of supporters joined senator David Pocock's re-election campaign launch at Old Parliament House, a location chosen to send a message after Labor and the coalition teamed up to pass reforms making it harder for independents to win seats.
"More and more Australians want choice," he told AAP on Monday.
"As an independent, you got to stand on your record, the work that you've done and hopefully represented people in a way that makes them feel proud to have a representative that's standing up for them."
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher holds the only other ACT senate spot and until Senator Pocock was elected, the two seats were usually occupied by one representative each from Labor and the Liberals.
Senator Gallagher said nothing was taken for granted despite Labor easily receiving a senate quota in the capital.
"You have to work hard to get the support of your community, it's always been the way, I don't think having an independent in the contest changes that," she told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
Standing up to major parties would be a bigger part of his campaign centred on climate, the cost of living, housing and health, Senator Pocock said.
"We're working up specific policies on a range of issues that are important to people in the ACT and things that the major parties haven't wanted to touch," he said.
Government transparency and integrity were still a major issue, Senator Pocock said, pointing to the major parties going against advice to let the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) hold public hearings when deemed in the public interest.
"There's this overarching frame of integrity, you hear it time and time again," he said.
"People want more integrity in government, they want a NACC that works, they want lobbying reform, they want ministerial diaries to be released."
Advocate Hannah Vardy was announced as his running mate, put forward as a voice for young people.
The fourth-year law, biology and climate science student was part of a campaign for parliament to legislate a duty of care to younger generations regarding climate change action.
The 2025 election must be held before May 17 and will be called after the federal budget on March 25.
Labor maintains its two-party preferred lead over the coalition 51 to 49 per cent, according to the latest YouGov polling, as various polls predict a hung parliament.
17°C