PM Scott Morrison supports former MP Sarah Henderson to take Victorian senate vacancy

Defeated Corangamite Liberal MP Sarah Henderson has the backing of Prime Minister Scott Morrison to fill a Victorian Senate vacancy ahead of the husband of former Liberal Sophie Mirabella.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has weighed into a Victorian Liberal senate preselection fight with a strong endorsement of an MP beaten at this year’s election.

Former MP Sarah Henderson, who lost her seat of Corangamite in May, is trying to return to Canberra in the senate seat being vacated by the former Communications Minister Mitch Fifield who has been appointed Australia’s ambassador to the United Nations.

Ms Henderson is understood to have the support of a number of Victorian federal MPs including Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and his assistant, Michael Sukkar, as well former Liberal Party president Michael Kroger.

But the former backbencher is facing a tough fight to win the endorsement of the 500-odd delegates who will decide who gets the seat, with factional support firming behind former Liberal Country Vice-President Greg Mirabella, the husband of former Indi MP Sophie Mirabella.

Now the Prime Minister has thrown his support behind Ms Henderson, revealing at a Liberal fundraising dinner at the Grand Hyatt last night that he has written her a reference.

Greg Mirabella, wife Sophie and daughters Alexandra and Kararina in 2013. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Morrison reportedly told the federal president’s fundraiser Ms Henderson is getting good reference from him.

“That wasn’t subtle was it?” the PM told the room of Victorian Liberal Party heavyweights.

It not the first time Mr Morrison has intervened in preselections since becoming Prime Minister last August.

Late last year he unsuccessfully called for a woman to replace former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the NSW seat of Wentworth, spot which was won by former ambassador Dave Sharma.

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Liberal sources say Mr Mirabella and Ms Henderson are the frontrunners in the competition, which is likely to include a number of other candidates who are yet to emerge.

The preselection will be held next month at Caulfield Racecourse.

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Originally published as PM Scott Morrison supports former MP Sarah Henderson to take Victorian senate vacancy