Warren Mundine vows to put ‘heart and soul’ into winning Bradfield preselection

Warren Mundine said the upcoming election will be the most important in Australia for decades, as he vowed to put his ‘heart and soul’ into retaining a North Shore Liberal seat under threat from a teal independent.

Prominent anti-voice campaigner Warren Mundine is vowing to put his “heart and soul” into retaining a North Shore Liberal seat under threat from a teal independent, to campaign against a government that has “divided the nation”.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Indigenous leader Mr Mundine is planning to run for preselection in the seat of Bradfield, after Liberal MP Paul Fletcher announced his resignation from politics.

It came as NSW frontbencher Alister Henskens ruled out running for Bradfield.

In a statement, Mr Henskens said that while “many people” had been encouraging to run, he would “continue to work for the people of Wahroonga”.

“I will not be nominating for the Bradfield Liberal preselection but want to thank those people who have contacted me for their encouragement and support,” he said.

Anti-voice campaigner and former Liberal candidate Warren Mundine wants to run for Bradfield. Jane Dempster.

Speaking from Israel, where he is on a study tour speaking with senior government officials and business leaders, Mr Mundine confirmed he would run, describing the upcoming election as “the most important election in Australia for decades”.

“We have a government that has divided the nation and is destroying our energy systems, (and) the industries that bring the most money into this country,” he said.

He criticised the government for being “divisive,” highlighting anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne.

NSW Liberal frontbencher Alister Henskens ruled out a tilt at the federal seat on Sunday. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

He said Australia’s multicultural and multi faith society is under threat.

“I’m determined to fight and bleed for this nation for us to win,” he said.

“Everyone has seen me in the Voice campaign, I put my heart and my soul into it; this is what I’m going to do for the people of Bradfield and Australia as a whole.

“I’ve never been more focused in this battle since the Voice.”

Bradfield has been vacated by Paul Fletcher, who announced his resignation last week.

Ahead of a likely mid-January preselection, a number of names are being floated for Liberal preselection in the seat held by a margin of just 2.5 per cent on new boundaries.

Liberal moderates are expected to support former international trade lawyer Gisele Kapterian – who was the preselected candidate for the seat of North Sydney, which has now been abolished.

Penny George, the wife of NSW Upper House MP Scott Farlow, is also being mentioned.

Ahead of Mr Mundine confirming his preselection tilt, multiple Liberals questioned whether he was the right person to win the seat.

Gisele Kapterian is seen as a frontrunner in the preselection race, likely to be supported by members of the Liberal Party’s moderate faction.

Liberals expect teal candidate Nicolette Boele to mount a strong challenge for the North Shore seat.

When Mr Fletcher announced his resignation, Ms Boele said it was time for change in the blue-ribbon seat.

“While Paul Fletcher and I may disagree with each other on many things, there is much to respect and admire in his long period of service to our community and the country,” she said.

“For 75 years, one political party has held Bradfield. Now is the opportunity for an independent to make a difference.”

A rank and file preselection is expected to be held next month. However, Liberals expect turnout could be down with preselectors away during the holiday period.

Originally published as Warren Mundine vows to put ‘heart and soul’ into winning Bradfield preselection