Hotshot Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg set to help take on Zali Steggall in Warringah

The Liberals have one of their ambitious, young stars called upon to be the voice of the party in Warringah, as the fight to regain the prized seat starts — more than two years before the next election.

Senator Andrew Bragg pictured at Middle Head Reserve. Picture: Julian Andrews.

• Lib rumoured to be eyeing Zali’s seat pushes renewable agenda
• New restaurant chain to take over Criniti’s Manly

A young hotshot Liberal is set to be the voice of the party in Warringah as the fight begins to reclaim the prized seat — just nine months on from the Federal Election.

A NSW Senator, Andrew Bragg’s views on some of the main issues at last year’s election could not be more different than the last Liberal who held the seat, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Mr Abbott lost the seat he had held for more than 25 years to independent Zali Steggall, who campaigned mostly on climate change and environmental issues.

Mr Bragg, 35, of Paddington, told the Manly Daily he believes in the science of climate change and does not believe the Commonwealth should be funding new coal-based power plants.

He was also national director of the Liberal party’s ‘yes’ campaign for same-sex marriage.

Marriage equality supporters rally Warringah MP Tony Abbott to allow a conscience vote on the issue of legalising same-sex marriage in Australia.

He said leading the successful campaign was “one of the best things I’ve done in my life”.

In contrast, Mr Abbott who voted against same sex marriage in 2017, was accused at the time of being totally out of touch with his electorate after Warringah voters polled the fourth highest yes vote in NSW.

Mr Bragg — freshly elected as senator in 2019 and a trusted ally of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull — said one of the main objectives of his new Warringah role was to find out why voters had turned their backs on the Liberal Party.

Senator Andrew Bragg taken at North Head Reserve. Picture: Julian Andrews.

He said he was also looking to gather opinions via more structured methods, possibly surveys.

He said it was too early to say what went wrong at the last election, but said people he had spoken to were focused on the economy and climate change.

“I’m on a listening tour,” Sen Bragg said.

“We really need to listen carefully to what the electorate is saying as to why we don’t hold that seat anymore.”

When questioned on whether he supported Zali Steggall’s climate change bill, he said he would be happy for Ms Steggall to brief him on it.

Independent Member for Warringah Zali Steggall at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, February 10, 2020, at the launch of her climate change bill. Picture: Mick Tsikas.

Plans are also afoot to open an office in Warringah, suggesting that the Liberal party was willing to throw everything at the electorate in order to win back hearts and minds.

Mr Bragg said the reason for a Liberal presence in Warringah was to allow people to have a point of contact with someone who is in Government and can “deliver”.

“My view is we should give the people of Warringah the option to deal with the Liberals,” he said.

“I can deliver, as a member of the Government.”

Mr Bragg who grew up in Shepparton in country Victoria started his career at Ernst & Young and went on to work in senior roles at the Financial Services Council and the Business Council of Australia.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull arriving at the launch of Menzies Research Centre Book - Fit for Service, with Andrew Bragg, left. Picture Kym Smith.

In 2016 he became the policy director of the Menzies Research Centre, a Liberal Party think tank.

He was then appointed as the acting federal director of the Liberal Party in April 2017, a huge job for someone who had never won an election at that point. He did not continue in the role permanently.

He also dropped out of the Liberal preselection for the 2018 Wentworth by-election due to concerns that the preselection of a male candidate would be poorly received.

He was elected as a senator last year and is currently chairman of the Select Committee on Financial Technology and Regulatory Technology.

Mr Bragg praised the community of Warringah and its beauty saying when he visited it was like “going to Hollywood”.

“It’s iconic, a beautiful part of the world,” he said.

“I have felt very, very welcomed.”

Sen Bragg’s new role follows a story in the Manly Daily about another Liberal Sasha Grebe — rumoured to be interested in the Warringah seat — who was also keen to boast about his “green credentials”.

He announced last week that he was backing a proposal to introduce a state-of-the-art recycling plant at Kimbriki.