Scott Morrison won’t intervene in fierce LNP Senate battle

Despite letting it be known where his support lies, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will not use his proxy vote to intervene in a tight Queensland preselection battle.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will not use his proxy vote to intervene in the tight Senate preselection battle between Amanda Stoker and James McGrath this weekend, while a former Newman Government Minister has re-emerged in the fray.

The end to what has been a hotly contested brawl to take the top spot on the Senate ticket will be decided on Saturday.

But while Mr Morrison has made it known he is supportive of Senator Stoker, The Courier-Mail understands he has made it known he will not directly intervene by having a proxy cast a vote.

LNP Senator Amanda Stoker. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

It is despite his promise to do so in Bowman to ensure a woman is preselected.

Party sources say it is too close to call who is ahead, with Senator Stoker a rising star, recently promoted again and having the backing of the Prime Minister, while Senator McGrath has been hardworking, travelling across the state in a months-long blitz hitting as many branch meetings as possible.

One party insider said while some considered Senator Stoker the favourite, Senator McGrath had experience campaigning which she had not had the time to build up so far.

Andrew Cripps is also running for preselection. Picture: Cameron Bates

Meanwhile, former Newman Government Minister Andrew Cripps is running in the fifth spot on the ticket.

While it is unwinnable, it is signalling a planned return to politics and rebuilding rapport with the party faithful.

Mr Cripps was the Resources and Mines Minister in the Newman Government.

Senator Matt Canavan is running again and is certain to secure the second spot of the ticket.

Colourful former Senate candidate Brad Carswell, who narrowly lost the seat of Lilley to Labor’s Anika Wells in 2019, is also nominated.

In the 2018 preselection contest, Mr Carswell created talk in the party with a quirky video featuring him up a tree cutting branches and in a boardroom overlooking the city.

Whoever wins the first spot on the LNP Senate ticket between Senators Stoker and McGrath is all but certain to be re-elected, while the third spot is winnable for not guaranteed.

LNP Senator James McGrath. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Senator McGrath was elected in 2013 and had been assistant minister to the Prime Minister, but has not held a frontbench seat since August 2018 when he resigned from the Turnbull Ministry ahead of the leadership spill.

Senator Stoker won the party’s nomination in the casual vacancies created when George Brandis resigned, was promoted by Mr Morrison to assistant minister to the attorney-general in December and again in March when assistant minister for women and industrial relations were added to her portfolio.