Bridget McKenzie rules out quitting Senate to run for lower house seat of Indi

Bridget McKenzie has ruled out quitting her job as a senator to run for the seat of Indi, ending months of speculation.

Shifting her office from Bendigo to Wodonga, combined with independent Cathy McGowan’s decision to step down as an MP after six years, appeared to point to a possible move to the lower house.

But the Nationals deputy leader told The Border Mail she was elected to the Senate until 2022 and wanted to fulfill that commitment.

“It’s a role I cherish and adore, and want to continue in,” Senator McKenzie said.

“I’m absolutely confident that just as they did in Mallee, the National Party will preselect from a very strong group of candidates.”

The announcement came after the Nationals opened its Indi preselection process on Monday, calling for potential candidates to nominate by February 1.

Bridget McKenzie said she will support the winner of the preselection process.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“I’ve tried to be clear all along, the move to Wodonga has been on the cards for a long time,” Senator McKenzie said.

She will instead support the winner of the preselection process, saying it was most important the person has “honesty and integrity”.

“I know the capacity is there in Indi. I’m always encouraging strong political leaders to continue that process and take the next step,” she said.

“Local is always best – you buy local, you support local and you should be local.”

The Nationals’ 2016 candidate Marty Corboy, who won 17.2 per cent of the first-preference vote after the party’s first election campaign in Indi in 15 years, has not ruled out trying again.

“I’d be lying to say I hadn’t thought about it. I thought we did very well at the last election with 18 per cent of the vote,” he said.

“I would be honoured to have that opportunity again.”

But Mr Corboy said he would consider his options before making a decision.

In announcing the preselection process, the Nationals Victorian state director Matthew Harris took aim at Voices for Indi’s closed meeting earlier this month.

"Unlike the Voices for Indi political party with their opaque preselection process, where the community didn't even know who the candidates were, the Nationals have always believed in genuine, transparent, on the ground democracy," he said.

If more than one candidate nominates, the Nationals will hold a preselection vote for Indi members on February 16.

The Border Mail