‘I don’t speculate’: Geelong councillor Trent Sullivan coy on Liberal preselection bid
An aspiring local politician remains tight-lipped about a potential state politics bid, while a local MP confirms she will recontest her seat in 2026.
A former Geelong mayor is keeping his cards close to his chest regarding a possible tilt at state politics, while a local MP has committed to standing again at next year’s election.
Trent Sullivan was re-elected as one of four vice presidents of the Liberal’s Victorian division at the party’s state conference on the weekend.
The Leopold ward councillor, free from mayoral duties following his two-year stint in the top job, has been broadening his network and experience in recent months, including joining the Regional Development Australia’s local board in August.
Some observers have said this is part of the 33-year-old’s plan to nominate for Liberal preselection ahead of the November 2026 state election.
While Mr Sullivan, a councillor since 2017 and former president of the Geelong Regional Young Liberals group, said he had “not committed” to seeking preselection, he also didn’t rule it out.
“I don’t speculate about future positions or anything like that,” he said.
“I’ve put my hand up for one job (vice president) and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Mr Sullivan is believed to be one of a number of people eyeing off Bev McArthur’s Legislative Council (Western Victoria Region) seat should the 76-year-old not seek a third term.
Ms McArthur, appointed opposition spokeswoman for local government and scrutiny of government following Brad Battin’s ascension to the Liberal leadership, has been coy about her future.
If Mr Sullivan opted for a lower house position, it would almost certainly be the Bellarine seat currently held by Labor’s Alison Marchant by 8.5 per cent.
“I’ve had no discussions with anybody about the upper house … or the Bellarine,” Mr Sullivan said.
“I haven’t committed to preselection and I haven’t had any conservations with any party officials about putting my hand for up for those preselections.”
The Victorian Liberals, like their federal counterparts, continue to be plagued by factional infighting.
Just days out from the weekend conference, Stuart Smith resigned as state director after the leaking of text messages that included him mocking Ms McArthur.
“Here’s Bev with dementia,” he wrote alongside an image of her waving an Australian flag.
Ms McArthur called Mr Smith’s resignation the “only acceptable course of action”.
“There’s probably some others that need to consider their position,” she said.
Mr Sullivan said he was confident the party was now united in its support of Mr Battin’s leadership.
“The parliamentary team and the membership are really committed to getting behind Brad Battin and getting behind this state election because we all know things need to change (in Victoria),” he said.
Meanwhile, Geelong MP Christine Couzens has confirmed she will run again at the 2026 election, putting to bed rumours this term would be her last.
Ms Couzens, elected to parliament in 2014, has been Parliamentary Secretary for First Peoples since June 2022.
She is also a member of the legal and social issues committee that is currently exploring the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups.
Ms Couzens is holding a Labor fundraiser alongside senior government minister Sonya Kilkenny of Tuesday morning.
Tickets to the event at Geelong Yacht Club were being sold for $120.
Originally published as ‘I don’t speculate’: Geelong councillor Trent Sullivan coy on Liberal preselection bid
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