Crisp came to prominence as the chairman of the Save the Food Bowl Alliance, a community group opposed to the plans of the
Bracks government to
build a toxic waste dump at Nowingi, in north-west Victoria. He resigned his position as chairman after winning
National Party pre-selection for the local electorate of
Mildura, contesting the seat against the Independent
Russell Savage. Savage had held Mildura since 1996, and had polled more than 50% of the primary vote in the
2002 election. Crisp was able to out-poll Savage 40% to 33% on primary vote and won the seat on preferences, a 25-point swing against the incumbent. In January 2007, the government abandoned plans to build the Nowingi waste dump after an Environmental Effects Statement recommended against the proposal, as well as acknowledging overwhelming community opposition. Crisp was the Nationals spokesperson for Public Transport and Major Projects from 2006 until February 2008 after the National Party and the
Liberal Party entered into a coalition. At the
2018 Victorian state election, Crisp was defeated by
independent Ali Cupper, a former deputy mayor of the
Rural City of Mildura, with a swing against him of over eight percent. ==Personal life==