Lincoln Parker, Jane Buncle Warringah Election: Candidates jostle to take on Zali Steggall
A conservative member of the Liberal Party, in the running to take on Zali Steggall, is being pressured to stand aside to make way for a candidate with a more “moderate” appeal to voters.
Manly
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A conservative member of the Liberal Party, in the running to take on Zali Steggall at this year’s federal election, is being pressured to stand aside to make way for a candidate with a more “moderate” appeal to voters.
Senior Liberal sources say that since he lodged his nomination on Friday, Lincoln Parker, 49, has been repeatedly approached by senior Liberal figures to withdraw from the Warringah preselection contest.
The Manly Daily last week reported that junior barrister Jane Buncle, 34, was confirmed as a preselection candidate to represent the Liberals against Ms Steggall, the popular independent MP.
Ms Buncle, who had told the party that she believes in taking action on climate change and described by those who know her as a “moderate Liberal woman”, was expected to be the only preselection candidate.
But sources say that Mr Parker, who is aligned with the conservative side of the party, has been vigorously campaigning this week among local Liberal Party members, seeking their preselection votes.
Mr Parker chairs the Liberal Party (NSW) Defence & National Security Policy Branch and has worked in defence research and technology development”and had “worked for the Australian government, and at its consulates in San Francisco and New York.
He has recently been the business development manager for the Defence Innovation Network, a “university-led initiative of the NSW Government and the Defence science and Technology Group to enhance NSW Defence industry capability”.
Mr Parker is also a regular contributor to Sky News political opinion shows.
A senior Liberal said that Mr Parker, who lives at Queenscliff, has been stridently told to withdraw because he does not have the necessary support and “people don’t know him”.
“The moderates have been putting immense pressure on him to step aside,” the source said.
“There have been repeated approaches from influential moderates for him to move aside and give Jane Buncle a clear run.
“They see her as a better chance of beating Zali.
“The pressure is well and truly on.”
A Liberal Party federal vice-president Teena McQueen described Mr Parker as a “fabulous and outstanding guy” when speaking with Sky News commentator Chris Smith last Friday night about the Warringah preselection battle.”
But MSs McQueen conceded that whomever is chosen to take on Zali will do it tough to win.
“It’s not a seat we have high hopes for,” she told Chris Smith.
Jane Buncle: Manly lawyer confirms she wants to take on Zali Steggall at federal election
A young female lawyer has confirmed she has put her name forward to represent the Liberal Party in the battle to beat Zali Steggall at this year’s federal election.
Jane Buncle, a high-flying junior barrister from Manly — who believes in taking action on climate change — confirmed to the Manly Daily that she is in the race for Liberal preselection for Warringah.
The deadline for Liberal Party members to nominate closes on Friday evening.
It was expected Ms Buncle, described by those who know her as a “moderate Liberal woman”, ”would be the only person to throw her hat into the ring.
But it has been revealed another preselection candidate is in the wings.
Lincoln Parker is aligned with the conservative side of the party and a member of the Liberal’s Manly Hellenic Branch.
A senior local Liberal source said Mr Parker, who is yet to officially nominate, was being urged on by the party’s “hard right”.
“This has miffed a lot of the local party members who have already coalesced their support
around Jane,” the source said.
On his Twitter social media page, Mr Parker describes himself as chair of the “Liberal Party (NSW) Defence & National Security Policy Branch, work in mil (sic) tech” and contributes right wing publication The Epoch Times.
On its website, the newspaper stated that Mr Parker “has over 20 years experience in government, defence research and technology development”and had “worked for the Australian government, and at its consulates in San Francisco and New York.
“He later established the Victorian government’s office in Washington D.C. with a focus on defence tech collaboration.”
Mr Parker is also a regular guest political panellists on Sky News talk shows.
After former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian rejected an offer from Prime Minister Scott Morrison to run in Warringah, Ms Buncle firmed in favouritism.
She officially has to convince more than 800 Liberal preselectors in Warringah of her ability to beat Ms Steggall. The preselection vote is likely to be held in February.
Ms Buncle has been described in legal circles as a rising star of the Australian Bar and one of the “go to juniors (barristers)” in Sydney.
In the Legal 500 Rankings she was described as “an outstanding advocate with a superior ability to grasp complex issues, and her forensic and legal analysis is invaluable”.
She has acted as junior counsel in commercial matters in the NSW Supreme and Federal courts, as well as Royal Commissions and international commercial arbitrations. Ms Buncle has also taken on criminal work.
Ms Buncle is also a Director of the Burdekin Association (youth homelessness not for profit on the northern beaches). She volunteers as a lifeguard at Manly Life Saving Club, and as a volunteer barrister at the Refugee Caseworker Service, the Environmental Defenders Office and the Duty Barrister Scheme.
Alex Dore, a State Liberal executive and former President of the NSW Young Liberals, has decided not to enter the preselection race.
Former Scott Morrison aide Sasha Grebe dropped out some weeks ago.
Another possible contender was the Menzies Research Centre’s Tim James, but on Thursday night he won preselection to replace Ms Berejiklian in the State seat of Willoughby at the upcoming by-election.
Under Liberal Party rules preselection candidates cannot comment to the media prior to the preselection vote.
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