Berejiklian offers Constance rare written endorsement for Senate campaign

Gladys Berejiklian has weighed in to the Senate race with the ex-premier throwing her support behind her former Cabinet minister Andrew Constance.

Gladys Berejiklian has weighed in to the Senate race with the ex-premier throwing her support behind her former Cabinet minister Andrew Constance.

In a major coup for Mr Constance, Ms Berejiklian has offered her long-time friend a rare written endorsement for his Senate campaign.

“Andrew’s contribution to public life has been outstanding,” she wrote.

“He is a passionate and dedicated advocate for the community.

“This was laid bare during the tragedy of the Black Summer Bushfires.”

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: Andrew McLean

The statement is contained on a brochure entitled “We are backing Andrew Constance”, which will be distributed to more than 700 selectors who will decide next Saturday on who should fill the vacancy.

The endorsement by Ms Berejiklian is a significant coup for the former Bega MP who is up against five other Senate candidates, including former NSW Liberal Party president Maria Kovacic.

Andrew Constance has received an endorsement from former premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: Jason Edwards

Ms Kovacic is expected to benefit from an alleged agreement between the moderates and centre-right factions, although some Liberals believe her short tenancy of the party presidency may work against her.

Moderates not backing Ms Kovacic are expected to swing to Mr Constance.

Mr Constance will argue that the Senate needs regional NSW representation while Ms Kovacic will declare she is representing western Sydney, metropolitan areas and the regions.

Another key contender is former RSL president and military veteran James Brown, who has been endorsed by former prime minister John Howard.

Mr Brown, who heads the Space Industry Association, is not factionally-aligned.

Maria Kovacic. Picture: John Grainger

James Brown. Picture: John Appleyard

The other candidates include former federal MP Fiona Scott, right faction aligned Jess Collins and disability advocate David Brady.

Despite resigning as premier in 2021 after becoming embroiled in an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation into former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire – whom was later revealed to have been in a relationship with Ms Berejiklian – she remains a popular figure within the Liberal Party.

Manly Liberals continue to speculate whether the Coalition would have lost the most recent state election if the Ms Berejiklian – now an Optus executive – had been premier.

Mr Constance became the voice of the south coast following the Black Summer bushfires, criticising the red tape and bureaucracy victims had to navigate in the recovery phase.

He later quit state politics to run unsuccessfully for the federal seat of Gilmore, missing out by less than 400 votes.

The selection process for the Senate vacancy - which follows the death of Jim Molan - will occur on May 27.