Liberal Party’s new gender war over who replaces upper house MP and former Health Minister Stephen Wade

The Libs are facing another damaging row over who will fill a lucrative upper house position left by retiring former health minister Stephen Wade, but a frontrunner has been revealed.

Ben Hood, right, is considered the frontrunner to fill Stephen Wade’s Legislative Council vacancy. His sister, Lucy, is the Labor member for Adelaide. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

South Australia’s Liberal Party is facing another damaging gender row over who will fill the lucrative upper house position left by retiring former health minister Stephen Wade.

Senior party figures say the frontrunner is Mount Gambier councillor Ben Hood, who contested the local south-east parliamentary seat for the Liberals at last year’s state election.

Mr Hood’s selection to the Legislative Council would defy efforts by the party to elect more women, which has been one of the focuses of a special Liberal task force.

Opposition Leader David Speirs, who wants a new woman MP, assembled the 12-member panel – comprising leading female stalwarts, officials and politicians – after the selection of Jack Batty to replace former attorney-general Vickie Chapman in the blue-ribbon eastern suburbs seat of Bragg.

The Liberals currently have a majority of Upper House women including leader Nicola Centofanti, former minister Michelle Lensink, Heidi Girolamo, Laura Curran and Jing Lee.

Party officials argue it has 60 per cent women in the Upper House compared to Labor’s 33 per cent.

A senior source said “the gender card is convenient for those who are frightened of losing”.

“I again point to the facts. We do not have a woman problem in the upper house,” they said.

“We are the party with the highest representation of women in the upper house.

“The Liberal Party always selects its candidates based on merit because we believe in individual choice and freedom. I suspect this preselection will be no different.”

The party’s conservative-controlled state executive met on Monday night to thrash out a selection timeline.

Former health minister Stephen Wade announced his retirement. Picture: Emma Brasier

Former MP Carolyn Power may nominate to fill the vacancy. Picture: Matt Turner

Nominations will open on Tuesday and close next Monday. Candidates will be vetted next week.

The vote, of the 220-member state council – known internally as the voting college – will occur on February 24.

Sources say the frontrunner is Mr Hood, whose sister Lucy is a rising Labor MP. He is the right faction’s expected nominee.

But other candidates may include former state MP Carolyn Power – Mr Speirs’ choice, who has been hitting the phones – and party vice-president Leah Grantham, who is the daughter of previous upper house speaker John Dawkins.

Other nominees will likely include former federal staffer Hannah March, who has raised eyebrows over her social media commentary, and failed political candidate Kathleen Bourne.

“It’s tough but I think Ben Hood has been in front of the college (council) the most and has done consistently well,” one senior party figure said.

Other candidates considering applying include staffer Leah Blyth, former MP Richard Harvey, another vice-president Lachlan Haynes, former staffer Chelsey Potter, her fiance Alex Rice, who has ambitions on being a Senator, and ex-Wade adviser Anna Finizio.

Ms Finizio, who also failed in her tilt for federal parliament last year, has just resigned to join the private sector.

She is, however, being sounded for the state seat of Dunstan when previous premier Steven Marshall retires.

The moderate faction is engaged in a “pitch-battle” for their candidate, sources said.

In a statement, Ms Centofanti said people from “all walks of life” had flagged interest.

“Modernising and reinvigorating the Liberal Party can be done in many ways,” she said.

“Regardless of who wins, boosting the number of women who participate in the Liberal Party remains an important goal and astep we must take to better align with the community.”

Chelsey Potter is one of the names being touted as a possible candidate. Picture: Keryn Stevens