Latest on the Wentworth by-election and Liberal party preselection race
THE nation’s eyes remain glued to the battle for Wentworth with the results of the Wagga Wagga by-election, allegations of bullying within the Liberal party and polling which favours a female candidate throwing the spotlight on the eastern seat.
Wentworth Courier
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THE nation’s eyes remain glued to the battle for Wentworth with the results of the Wagga Wagga by-election, allegations of bullying within the Liberal party and polling which favours a female candidate throwing the spotlight on the eastern seat.
Liberal preselection front runner, accountant Andrew Bragg, sensationally pulled out of the race on Monday despite having been endorsed by former Prime Minister and member for Wentworth Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Bragg said he had become convinced of the need for greater female representation in parliament and was offered a plum position on the senate ticket as a consolation prize.
A poll commissioned by Mr Bragg showed the party would lose Wentworth at 39 per cent if he were the candidate but narrowly retain it at 43 per cent if a woman were preselected.
The result comes despite and online poll conducted by Wentworth Courier showing a mere 60 of 317 respondents wanted a female candidate compared to the remainder who said gender would not determine their vote.
The Liberal preselection panel will meet on Thursday evening with the process expected to take until the early hours of Friday morning.
Sportsbet have Sydney East Business Chamber chairwoman Katherine O’Regan as the favourite at $1.60 followed closely by former ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma at $2.85.
Woollahra councillor Mary-Lou Jarvis is also considered a strong chance.
Bragg supporter and well connected eastern suburbs Liberal Sally Betts applauded him for bowing out.
“History will show us he’s done us a great service,” Cr Betts said. “It was a big call for him, he certainly had the numbers (to win preselection) but obviously there is an issue in the Liberal party with women candidates. ”
Former Wentworth MP Peter King conducted his own poll which shows if he is candidate he would boost the two party preferred vote from 47 to 50 per cent.
Who will get the chop?
IT seems anyone entering parliament these days needs to be adept at handling a knife so the Liberal preselection candidates got in some practise while helping a great cause at Our Big Kitchen in Bondi on Friday.
It remains to be seen who will be served up the seat of Wentworth but the nine original nominees showed they could handle the heat in the kitchen while preparing food for the needy.
The budding politicians were invited to help out the charity by Rabbi Dovid Slavin, a friend of former Wentworth MP Malcolm Turnbull.
Rabbi Slavin told the Wentworth Courier he invited the contenders along to symbolise that regardless of who wins preselection or indeed the seat, the main thing is they work for the good of the community.