Former Wallabies captain David Pocock is vying to become the first independent senator for the national capital.
Pocock was born in Zimbabwe before moving to Brisbane when he was 14 years old.
An Australian citizen, he is also eligible for both Zimbabwean and South African citizenship but will be renouncing both ahead of his foray into federal politics.
Since retiring from his rugby career, which included a stint as vice-captain of the Brumbies, Pocock has been a prominent environmental activist and philanthropist.
He has co-founded numerous charities and, in 2014, he was arrested for chaining himself to a digger at a coal mine protest.
Pocock, who has lived in Canberra since 2012, said his motivation to make the switch from rugby union to politics came out of frustration with the current crop of politicians.
"Like everyone, I've been watching politics over the last three years and getting increasingly frustrated at the way politicians aren't addressing the big issues we're facing and aren't actually representing communities," he said.
"We've currently got a Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister who keep telling us that people don't want government in their lives.
Pocock vying to become the ACT's first independent senator
The ACT and the Northern Territory did not have senators until Australia's 1975 election. Since then, the ACT has only ever elected Labor and Liberal senators.
In recent decades, the Greens and several high-profile independents have targeted the Liberal-held Senate seat. However, in most elections, the Liberal Party has managed to be voted in without relying on preferences.
Pocock estimated his pitch for votes would come down to his views on the need for climate action.
"We know we need bold climate action to have a great future as a country," he said.
"We are living with the effects of climate change already and we need politicians who are looking further ahead than the next three years.
Key focuses: National Voice to Parliament and voluntary assisted dying bill
Alongside climate policy, ensuring a constitutionally-enshrined National Voice to Parliament would be a key focus for the Pocock if he snagged an ACT Senate seat.
"That's how we can actually build a thriving future."
Pocock said he would also join the push to have the right to debate voluntary assisted dying returned to the territories, taking specific aim at Liberal senator Zed Seselja, who has been clear in his opposition to the idea.
"Canberra's changed a lot over the last few decades and we need to be able to make more decisions about what affects us," he said.
"And we can no longer have a senator who argues against territory rights."
He said voluntary assisted dying was what the vast majority of Canberrans wanted and their representatives should be fighting to make that happen.
"We're smart enough as a community to be putting safeguards in place and doing that in a way that is good for all of us."
ACT Liberal Senator Zed Seselja said Pocock's "radical green tinge" could very well be what he becomes known for in the political space.
"I always say well done to anyone who puts their hand up for democratically-elected office," he said.
"I enjoyed watching him on the rugby field, I think obviously he brings a pretty radical Green-Left perspective to politics — he's best known for being arrested for an extinction rebellion-style stunt, chaining himself to a bulldozer.
However, Senator Seselja said he was not concerned that Pocock's climate action stance would win him votes.
"We've got a record that puts us well ahead of the average developed countries," he said.
"Australians don't want this kind of extreme view that says you've got to kill industries and sacrifice jobs and radically push up energy prices in order to act on climate change.
"I never take any votes for granted regardless of who our opponents are."
Pocock also up against independent candidate Kim Rubenstein
For Pocock, there was never any question as to whether he would run as part of a major political party or as an independent.
He said he believed there was a lack of integrity in politics at the moment, and said independents were uniquely placed to fix that.
"You're not having to roll out highly workshopped lines that you don't believe in.
"You're not having to take a policy platform to an election that doesn't actually represent the people that you're representing."
Pocock will not be the only independent candidate on the ticket – constitutional law expert Kim Rubenstein has also thrown her hat in the ring for a Senate seat.
But Pocock is confident that he has a chance.
