Federal election, Warringah: Three Libs battle for right to take on Zali Steggall

The race is heating up between three Liberals for the right to try and win back Warringah from popular independent Zali Steggall. Here are the contenders.

Three candidates have officially put their names forward to become the Liberal Party candidate to win the former blue ribbon seat of Warringah back from Zali Steggall at the upcoming federal election.

Party insiders have confirmed that disability campaigner David Brady has nominated along with Katherine Deves, an outspoken advocate for strict definitions of biological sex in sport.

They join international defence analyst Lincoln Parker, from Queenscliff, who nominated to be the Liberal candidate back in January.

Katherine Deves, co-founder of Save Women's Sport Australia, has thrown her name into the ring to be selected by the Liberals to take on Zali Steggall at the upcoming federal election. Picture: Nikki Short

There are rumours the preselection ballot, involving 700 to 800 voters, could be held as early as April 1.

The three preselection candidates have already visited several party branch meetings in Warringah, including at Manly and Mosman, to make their pitches for selection.

Ms Deves, from Manly Vale, and co-founder of the Save Women’s Sport lobby group, has campaigned for strict definitions of biological gender to separate male and female sporting competitors. She says trans women have an unfair advantage.

Lincoln Parker, who is still a preselection candidate for the Liberal Party in the federal seat of Warringah, with his sons Henry (right) and Jackson. Picture: Supplied

She was able to nominate after the Liberal NSW state executive passed a motion to reopen nominations in Warringah.

This came after suggestions that the party’s state head office would “parachute in” Mr Brady, an “outsider” who is president of the party’s Waverton-Wollstonecraft Branch.

Talk of the so-called “captain’s pick’ sparked a furious response from the Liberal party’s local office holders and members.

There have been delays in picking a Liberal candidate in Warringah, and other electorates, due to a wider internal party conflict about the right of the NSW head office to endorse candidates rather that let local party members decide in a preselection vote.

David Brady, confirmed as a Liberal preselection candidate for Warringah. Picture; Supplied

And a push by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to recruit former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to run against Ms Steggall also upset some local Liberal party members.

Party insiders say Ms Deves is non-factional, but she was receiving “good support from the centre main stream section of the party”. She was granted an exemption to run for preselection even though she did not meet the requirement of having a continuous six-month financial Liberal membership.

Mr Parker, who chairs the Liberal Party (NSW) Defence & National Security Policy Branch; has worked in defence research and technology development and; is a regular media commentator on national security issues, is benefiting from support from the conservative side of the party.

The launch of Team Zali 2022. Warringah MP Zali Steggall has had a headstart in the campaign to retain the seat. Picture: Facebook (Zali Steggall)

Mr Brady is getting the backing of the moderate group in the party.

In her submission, Ms Deves reportedly pointed out that the only two other candidates were men.

“The Liberal Party has set a target for the proportion of candidates who shall be female to be 50 per cent,” she wrote. “The party cannot realistically expect to achieve this constitutional target if it does not make allowance for the reasons why women may not be able to maintain continuous membership and involvement.”