Mr Kelty, flew to Adelaide on Sunday to help launch Senator Hanson-Young's campaign. He stressed on that he was expressing his personal support for Senator Hanson-Young as a champion for refugees, and not distancing himself from the Labor Party.
Others who spoke at the launch include the party's first leader, Bob Brown, and a young Afghan refugee.
''It's not a political statement about the Labor Party and the Greens, but when people you know are under pressure and they are very good people and they champion causes, then occasionally you have to get up and say so,'' Mr Kelty said.
''I want the Labor Party to win, but I also want her to win. I've known her since she was three years of age and I'm a great supporter of her. She's a very genuine person and very committed, and she's under a lot of pressure to retain her seat.''
Mr Kelty said he was on a unity ticket on refugees with Mr Fraser, who flew to Adelaide earlier in the campaign to support Senator Hanson-Young. Mr Fraser said he wanted to see Senator Hanson-Young returned and both the major parties denied the balance of power in the Senate. He is also an admirer of Mr Kelty.
Senator Hanson-Young, 31, is competing with the Liberal Party for the sixth South Australian spot in the Senate.
''I've know Bill for a long time and we disagree on some issues, but on basic fairness and decency and standing up for the vulnerable, we've always seen eye to eye,'' she said.
Senator Hanson-Young said she had tried to live by the advice Mr Kelty gave her when she joined the Greens: ''You have got to stand still in the wind and make sure you stay true.''
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