Georgina Downer faces Liberal preselection challenger in Mayo for 2019 federal election
MAYO by-election candidate Georgina Downer will face a challenge for Liberal preselection from human resources manager Reagan Garner, triggering the prospect of a members’ ballot next month.
MAYO by-election candidate Georgina Downer will face a challenge for Liberal preselection from human resources manager Reagan Garner, triggering the prospect of a members’ ballot next month.
In the wake of her heavy defeat to the Centre Alliance’s Rebekha Sharkie at last month’s by-election, Ms Downer had been expected to face a contest after, in May, securing preselection unopposed.
Mr Garner, the HR services manager for ReturnToWorkSA, put his name forward in May but was blocked when internal party scrutiny detected issues with dual citizenship.
It is understood Mr Garner is now confident that these issues have been resolved and his Canadian citizenship has been renounced.
Nominations for Liberal preselections closed at noon yesterday. Mayo was the only contested seat.
Incumbent MPs Christopher Pyne (Sturt), Nicolle Flint (Boothby), Tony Pasin (Barker) and Rowan Ramsey (Grey) all were the only nominations in their seats and are expected to be endorsed at the party’s state council meeting this weekend.
The Liberal hierarchy is expected to review Mayo candidate nominations next week, ahead of a likely members’ ballot next month.
Ms Downer is the overwhelming favourite to win the preselection ballot, despite losing the by-election to Ms Sharkie 57.6-42.4 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
Her father, former federal Liberal leader Alexander Downer, held Mayo from 1984 to 2008. Ms Downer told The Advertiser: “I welcome the democratic process the Liberal Party affords all members to run for preselection. I look forward to presenting my case to party members in Mayo over the next few weeks.”