Transport Minister Andrew Constance expected to contest Federal seat of Eden-Monaro
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance is expected to announce his candidacy for the Federal seat of Eden-Monaro with the party hoping to cash in on Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s own popularity in the region in what will be a tough campaign.
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NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance is expected to announce his candidacy for the Federal seat of Eden-Monaro with the party hoping to cash in on Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s own popularity in the region in what will be a tough campaign.
Mr Constance became the new favourite to contest the seat after Deputy Premier John Barilaro withdrew, having decided Sunday evening he would pull out of the race.
Polling over the weekend showed Mr Constance had a strong standing in the seat, particularly on the back of his performance during the bushfires.
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His well-publicised run in with Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the height of the region’s fires in January presents something of a quandary for campaigning.
It is understood Mr Constance and Mr Morrison have reconciled, but while the PM has been praised for his handling of the COVID crisis, it is unclear to what extent there will be residual dissatisfaction with the Federal Liberals following the bushfires.
Nonetheless, the weekend’s polling showed extremely high personal popularity for Premier Berejiklian, suggesting she would be an important asset in the campaign.
Labor rubber-stamped its own candidate, local mayor Kristy McBain, yesterday giving her a head start on any Liberal candidate for the campaign.
Several Liberals made representations to senior Nationals authorities when Mr Barilaro was considering his tilt to do a deal that would allow the Deputy Premier to have a fresh run at the seat without a Liberal opponent in exchange for the Nationals giving the Liberals an unencumbered run at a seat like Gilmore.
This pitch fell by the wayside with the Prime Minister insistent that the Liberals run.
The Daily Telegraph revealed last week that Mr Constance was also urging a full consideration of a three cornered contest.
Mr Barilaro was visibly emotional yesterday when he confirmed he was dropping out. “Sometimes in this game you let ego get in the way of good decisions, and I’ve got to make the best decision for me, my family, for the people of NSW,” he said.
“For a long time you think that maybe you’ve got an opportunity to contribute to the national agenda, and I can do that at state level.
“But you know, this is the right thing to do. I’m at peace with myself today. I’m at peace with my decision,” he said.