Andrew Constance: Former NSW Minister lobbies Hunter ahead of the Senate Liberal preselection

The former NSW transport minister, Andrew Constance, has been spending some time in the Hunter ahead of Senate Liberal preselection, the seat made vacant by the late Jim Molan.

Liberal Newcastle councillor Callum Pull and former NSW Minister Andrew Constance in Newcastle May 19, 2023. Facebook

Long serving former NSW cabinet minister Andrew Constance has been in the Hunter, with the selection of the vacate Senate position set to be decided on Saturday.

The former transport minister and ex-Bega MP has emerged as a narrow favourite to win the seat held by the late Jim Molan, in his bid to become the voice for the bush in federal parliament.

Luckily he’s got some heavy hitters in his corner, with former NSW Premier Glady’s Berejiklian throwing her support behind her long-time friend with written endorsement for his Senate campaign.

Andrew Constance is a candidate or the Liberal Senate seat which was held by the late Jim Molan. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Multiple Liberal party sources say he’s been heavily campaigning for votes in the Hunter region where he has family links, and is offering “genuine regional representation” that no other candidate is.

Mr Constance has been picking up a lot of cross-factional support to fill the vacancy, and The Newcastle News understands he’s been to the Hunter on several occasions to spruik his candidacy, and it’s believed he is the only candidate to take his bid to the Hunter.

Mr Constance was in Newcastle last week, meeting up with Liberal Newcastle councillor Callum Pull.

“The only thing missing was the local MP riding the light rail. We know he loves what the Libs did in Newcastle! Thanks for having me,” Mr Constance posted to his Facebook.

Mr Pull cited it was fantastic to welcome back the former minister to Newcastle to see the results of the former NSW Government’s infrastructure investments in the city which have led to a “healthier, more vibrant city for all Novocastrians to enjoy”.

He also headed to Maitland on Mother’s Day to talk with Hunter Liberal party delegates to secure their vote, in which more than 700 will have their say on Saturday.

Mr Constance is one of six candidates in the Senate Liberal preselection race which includes former Lindsay MP Fiona Scott, Shepherd Centre executive David Brady, Liberal Party state president Maria Kovacic, Lowy Institute researcher Jess Collins and RSL president and military veteran James Brown.

The former voice of the south coast quit state politics in 2021 in a bid to run for the Federal Seat of Gilmore by missed out by less than 400 votes

He was narrowly defeated by Labor’s Fiona Philips.