Nick Xenophon eyes return to politics

However, the High Court later found Xenophon was validly elected and able to run for office.

He turned his attention to South Australian politics, running for a lower house seat in the 2018 state election under the SA Best party, but failed.

Xenophon said in a statement he had “tried to be a political hermit” for four years.

“I can no longer sit on the sidelines,” he said.

The odds are stacked against the former senator, as he won’t have a party to put his name above the line on the upper house ballot paper – a position only givexjmtzywn to groups and parties.