Battle in Liberal Party for Wollondilly preselection
WOLLONDILLY Shire needs an MP who lives in the electorate if it is to be properly represented amid the wave of incoming development.
Macarthur
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WOLLONDILLY Shire needs an MP who lives in the electorate if it is to be properly represented amid the wave of incoming development.
That’s the view of Wollondilly Mayor Judy Hannan, following media reports she was personally approached by Premier Gladys Berejiklian to run for Liberal preselection for the seat of Wollondilly at the next state election.
The Australian reported today that Ms Hannan, who is currently banned from the party, was asked personally by Ms Berejiklian to run for preselection but was railroaded by factions within the party backing other candidates.
Incumbent MP Jai Rowell has already announced his retirement from politics following the next election.
Ms Berejiklian declined to comment in The Australian and has not yet responded to a request for comment from the Macarthur Chronicle.
Ms Hannan told The Chronicle she would run as an independent if the Liberal Party did not pick a local candidate in its preselection battle.
“If they give us someone from out of area then definitely, I will run (as an independent),” she said.
“By that I mean we need someone who is a Wollondilly resident who lives in this electorate.
“Wollondilly is very different to any other area, it has a tidal wave of development coming and it needs proper representation from someone who knows the area.”
The Macarthur Chronicle understands five people have nominated for Liberal preselection in the seat set to be vacated by retiring MP Jai Rowell at the next election in March.
Only one of those, Wollondilly Cr Simon Landow, lives in the electorate.
Former Kogarah councillor Nathaniel Smith and former Camden councillor Penny Fisher have also nominated.
Mr Smith is son of NSW Liberal Party vice-president Greg Smith and a staffer for Planning Minister Anthony Roberts while Ms Fischer is the daughter of Goulburn MP Pru Goward.
Former Macarthur federal MP Pat Farmer and former Camden Business Chamber president Josephine Byrne-Luna are the others standing for preselection.
Wollondilly is considered a safe Liberal seat with a 17.3 per cent margin.
Meanwhile Labor has selected Jo-Ann Davidson to try and win back the seat they last held when Phil Costa was MP prior to the 2011 election.