[1] Crisp holds an engineering degree from Ballarat University and was a horticulturist and milk distributor before entering politics.
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.
[2] 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.
[3] 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.
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.