Senator Rex Patrick considering running for outback seat of Grey at next federal election
There’s a long-held Liberal seat in the lower house which is being eyed off by independent Senator Rex Patrick.
SA News
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Independent South Australian Senator Rex Patrick is considering running for the outback seat of Grey at the next federal election.
Admitting his chances of retaining his Senate spot were “not guaranteed”, Senator Patrick revealed he could run against long-serving Liberal MP Rowan Ramsey.
When asked directly if he was going to make a tilt for the safe Liberal seat, which covers almost all of regional SA, Senator Patrick said: “I would never say no, because Whyalla is my hometown”.
He said the Liberal Party asked him several months ago if he was planning to run against Mr Ramsey at the next election.
“In that context, I have given some thought to it, but I haven’t made any decisions,” Senator Patrick said.
“As far as I’m concerned, at this point in time, I’m just going to keep running for the Senate.”
Senator Patrick was born in Whakatane, New Zealand, but moved to Whyalla as a child.
He said he had been active in Grey as a Senator, helping to secure $25m of government funding for the Cape Hardy port development and $15m for a steel plant in Whyalla.
“I think the (Liberal Party) is clearly worried about me,” he said.
“They did approach me, from a couple of different angles, and asked: ‘are you considering running for Grey’.”
Liberal state director Sascha Meldrum said she was “not aware of anyone from the party who has made this inquiry”.
Senator Patrick confirmed he had recently conducted his “first ever” poll, gauging his support across the state since splitting from Centre Alliance last year.
He said the poll was also to find out what issues were important to South Australians.
“My chances of getting back into the Senate are certainly not guaranteed, but it’s not a case of that I won’t be in the fight,” he said.
“Centre Alliance was polling around 2 per cent … and now I am sitting in the same place as One Nation and United Australia Party.”
Asked about Senator Patrick’s possible tilt, Mr Ramsey said: “It’s a free country, anyone can nominate for these seats”.
“I think it’s a fair indication that his chances of getting into the Senate are limited,” Mr Ramsey said.
“Grey is an enormous seat (and) I think few appreciate the length of breadth of the people, the communities and the industries that sit within – and I’m well equipped for that.”
Mr Ramsey holds Grey with an estimated margin of 13.3 per cent. It has been held by the Liberal Party since 1993.
Senator Patrick filled a casual vacancy in the Senate caused by the resignation of Nick Xenophon in November 2017.
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