The Source: Kooyong Liberals dreaming of Josh Frydenberg’s comeback

The Liberal Party has a long road ahead after last month’s electoral wipe-out. But in Victoria, the members are already hoping a familiar face will lead them back to power.

Victorian Liberals are hoping Josh Frydenberg makes a comeback.

Fresh from last month’s electoral wipe-out, Victorian Liberal members have already set their sights on Josh Frydenberg making a return to politics at the next federal poll.

On Monday night, the blue-blooded members of the party’s Kooyong federal electorate conference chose their new committee members including Jacquie Blackwell as their chair, replacing Phillip Healey who stepped down from the role.

Both Mr Healey and Ms Blackwell – who was the former chair of the Higgins Liberal branch – have been supporters of the former treasurer, with Ms Blackwell having worked closely with Frydenberg since he first became the member for Kooyong in 2010.

An insider told The Source the members of Kooyong’s new executive were “all Josh people”, and that they were getting ready for the chairman of investment bank Goldman Sachs’s Australian branch to make his political comeback.

Victorian Liberal members have set their sights on Josh Frydenberg making a return to politics at the next federal election. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Almost 450 members cast their votes for the committee at the annual general meeting held at Malvern Town Hall. Several members were re-elected including secretary Josh Worth.

Fergus Ewart and Lucy Lewis were also appointed as new state assembly delegates.

Amelia Hamer – who narrowly failed to knock off Teal MP Monique Ryan in May’s election – is understood to have canvassed support for the role of chair but did not run. The Source hears the meeting was a calm affair where Hamer was thanked for her service.

Frydenberg had mulled over a comeback in the wake of losing the seat in 2022, before clearing the way for Hamer to take on Ryan.

On Monday night, the members of the largest Liberal branch were bullish about their chances in 2028, emboldened by Tim Wilson’s effort to defeat incumbent Teal MP Zoe Daniel in Goldstein.

So will Frydenberg answer their call?

“I don’t think ambition’s a crime. I’m not rushing back. Life is good on the other side ... Never say never,” he said on the eve of last month’s election.

It sounds like the door is wide open.

Originally published as The Source: Kooyong Liberals dreaming of Josh Frydenberg’s comeback