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Former Channel [V] Presenter James Mathison To Run Against Former PM Tony Abbott

Staff Writer

"I know it's weird..."

TV presenter James Mathison has announced he will run as an independent candidate against former Prime Minister Tony Abbott in the federal seat of Warringah in Sydney. 

In an interview with MTV, the former Channel [V] personality and Australian Idol host acknowledged that the news would surprise many. 

"I know it's weird, there's the guy from the TV entering politics and entering a campaign against Tony Abbott...this makes no sense, but it kind of does," he said.

"We know the system is broken. We know young people are completely ignored and locked out and think their vote doesn't count, that they have no voice to be heard and that's exactly what the major parties want.

"The trouble is with this two-party system, all you've got to do is be less shit than the other guy."

Mathison has wasted no time in verbally sledging Abbott, who has held the seat since 1994, suggesting that the politician's views "don't only not reflect the views of the people of Warringah, but they don't reflect the views of anyone I know under 30, even under 40".

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"He's against marriage equality, he thinks climate change is a hoax, doesn't sneeze at the idea that we've locked children up in deplorable conditions overseas and he's lied over and over again," Mathison said. 

"I don’t have any political experience, but you know, if political experience means that you deceive the public and means that you break promises and means that you never say what you mean, then maybe we need someone who doesn’t have ‘political experience'".

The 38-year-old plans to launch a Pozible campaign for his run and is also in the process of obtaining an Uber license. 

"I am there for the electorate and if that means I’m out at 4am, outside The Steyne, outside The Boatshed...I’ll be there," he told The Daily Telegraph.

"If I served kebabs instead of mints, imagine that?"

Mathison has also taken to Twitter to garner support for his campaign where he is being backed by many people, including former TV presenting partners, Osher Gunsberg and Yumi Stynes.