Eden-Monaro set for by-election after Labor MP Mike Kelly resigns
Premier Gladys Berejiklian could be left without a deputy when Labor’s Mike Kelly resigns from federal parliament, with NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro the frontrunner to win Mr Kelly’s seat.
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Phone polling is being conducted in the prized Eden-Monaro electorate to determine voting intentions, with NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro considered the frontrunner to replace Labor’s Mike Kelly.
Federal MP Mr Kelly is expected to retire within days.
The Nationals’ polling was pitting Mr Barilaro against Liberal Jim Molan and serial Labor candidate Leanne Atkinson.
It is understood that NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance, whose name has also been touted as a possible candidate, was not included in the polling questionnaire because he and Mr Barilaro do not wish to run against each other.
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It comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed he wanted the Liberal Party to run a candidate in any by-election should Mr Kelly resign.
There is a deep split in NSW Liberals over whether the party should run.
Moderate Liberals — who control the state’s executive — have told The Daily Telegraph they want to back Mr Barilaro to run.
While Mr Morrison does not have a preferred candidate, it is his firm wish that the Liberals do field a candidate, decided upon at a local branch level.
“The Liberal Party will contest the seat as I’m sure the National Party will contest the seat, but that doesn’t change the history which would mean that it would be a one in a hundred year event for a government in those circumstances if they were to take a seat from the Opposition,” Mr Morrison said.
Mr Constance has not publicly stated his intention for the seat, saying yesterday: “Our community at the moment, it doesn’t need a massive political bunfight going on and that’s why it’s important, out of respect, to give Mike some dignity and let him make the comments.”
Earlier, Premier Gladys Berejiklian refused to comment on speculation that her deputy Mr Barilaro would contest the seat.
Mr Kelly announced his resignation due to health reasons
If Mr Barilaro did win Eden-Monara and move to federal parliament, that would leave Ms Berejiklian without a deputy premier, and facing her own hotly contested by-election.
“I’m not one to get into hypotheticals at this stage,” Ms Berejiklian said, when asked about that possibility.
“The focus of myself and my team is in dealing with the pandemic at the stage.”
She would not be drawn on her preferred pick for deputy premier if Mr Barilaro goes.
Mr Kelly has long battled chronic health problems dating back to his army service in Iraq.
“I don’t believe I can continue to do the job to the extent — and with the commitment and the physical demand — that I would want to,” he told ABC radio on Thursday.
Mr Barilaro told Sky News on Thursday morning that he would consider a tilt.
“I’ll definitely consider it, but at this point we’ve got to wait for Mike Kelly to make an announcement,” Mr Barilaro said. “I can’t rule it out, don’t rule it in.
“Everybody’s got to be honest with themselves and it will be something that I’ll weigh up over the next few days once an announcement has been made.”