Career
He was formerly a Wentworth Shire Councillor. Crisp holds an engineering degree from Ballarat University and was a horticulturist and milk distributor before entering politics. He also served as the Chairman of the Sunraysia Citrus Growers, and was on the board of the Australian Citrus Growers.
Crisp came to prominence as the chairman of the Save the Food Bowl Alliance, a community group opposed to the Bracks government"s plans 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 seat 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.
In January 2007 the Labor 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 when the Nationals and Liberals entered into coalition.