Ryan MP Jane Prentice loses LNP preselection to former member of her staff Julian Simmonds
TURNBULL Government minister Jane Prentice will be booted from Parliament at the next election after losing preselection to a former member of her staff.
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TURNBULL Government minister Jane Prentice will be booted from Parliament at the next election after losing preselection to a former member of her staff.
Local branch members in Queensland voted to dump the sitting MP this morning in favour of Brisbane city councillor Julian Simmonds.
Ms Prentice was beaten at the ballot box by Mt Simmonds 256-102. Prominent LNP members Peter Dutton, Graham Quirk and Tim Mander were all present at the vote.
The embarrassing blow means Ms Prentice — the assistant minister for social services and disability — will be forced to serve out her term but won’t contest the seat of Ryan for the LNP at the next election, which is due within the next 12 months.
Following the win, Mr Simmonds, 33, said he was “very pleased” to have been selected by the local members of the LNP.
“Jane Prentice has been a faithful servant of the Australian people and has our thanks and gratitude for a lifetime of support for the Liberal Party and LNP,” he said.
“There will be a very clear choice for voters, the LNP that manages the economy responsibly for the benefit of all Australians, or Labor — who wants to impose higher taxes, and take more income from the pensioners and self-funded retirees who live in this community”.
Ms Prentice was first elected to the blue-ribbon seat in 2010 after serving on the Brisbane City Council when Campbell Newman was Lord Mayor.
Gary Spence, LNP President said Mr Simmonds was well respected and has been a strong and effective voice in the Brisbane City Council.
“He will now work hard to be elected by the community, so he can take his passion and drive to get things done to the Australian Parliament.”
Mr Simmonds' win is expected to spark tensions within the Queensland LNP over the number of female representatives in the Queensland LNP.
In March, several Liberal National Party members threatened to push for quotas if the party didn’t preselect a woman to replace former Attorney-General George Brandis.
Brisbane barrister Amanda Stoker was chosen to replace George Brandis who has started his term as Australia’s High Commissioner in the UK.
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