A former South Australian Labor MP facing blackmail allegations has maintained her innocence and made a pitch to voters after a court appearance in Adelaide.
Annabel Digance, 64, and husband Greg Digance, 61, both pleaded not guilty to blackmail charges when they appeared before the District Court on Friday.
They were remanded on continuing bail with a trial date set for May next year.
Outside court, Ms Digance, who is standing as an independent upper house candidate alongside her husband at the March 19 state election, said they would continue to fight to clear their names and regain their reputations.
She has vowed not to do deals with any other parties or MPs.
"I am standing and will operate as a true independent," she told reporters.
"I will not do deals. Instead, as I have done in the past, I will work hard to get results that benefit our community."
Among key issues, Ms Digance called for better funding for health, especially in regional communities, the elimination of domestic violence, better phone and internet services in country areas, support for small business and improvements to public transport.
She urged voters to support her election bid.
"I believe in equal rights, inclusivity, a fair and just society. I believe in performance over pedigree," she said.
"I would welcome your support and your vote in allowing me to return to the South Australian parliament and to continue to work and support the South Australian community - our community."
Ms Digance and her husband were arrested in April last year at their Strathalbyn home, south of Adelaide.
At the time police said it would be alleged they were involved in a common enterprise to obtain a personal gain by threatening to make allegations of misconduct against Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas.
It was understood that benefit involved Ms Digance being placed in a winnable spot on the Legislative Council ticket or being preselected for a safe Labor seat prior to the 2022 election.
Ms Digance served in the SA parliament as the lower house member for Elder from 2014 to 2018, but lost her seat to the Liberals in the 2018 state election.
