Kevin Andrews says he would be ‘prepared’ to challenge PM Malcolm Turnbull under right circumstances

CONSERVATIVE Menzies MP Kevin Andrews says he would challenge for the party leadership under the right circumstances.

Defence Minister Kevin Andrews and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull during Question Time in the House of Representatives, Federal Parliament, Canberra.

AS KEVIN Andrews prepares to mark 25 years as the member for Menzies, the veteran Liberal MP says he would be prepared to challenge for the leadership of the Liberal party, and therefore the Prime Ministership, under the right circumstances.

In a wideranging interview with the Manningham Leader, Mr Andrews shed light on his work in the electorate, his past disappointments and the circumstances under which he would return to the front bench.

RELATED: Listen to the audio of comments Kevin Andrews says were ‘taken out of context’

Malcolm Turnbull’s elevation to the Prime Minister’s office last year resulted in Mr Andrews challenging fellow Liberal Julie Bishop for the deputy leadership of the party.

“There wasn’t anything particularly negative about Julie, but she had been deputy leader under Brendan (Nelson), Malcolm, Tony and I thought, ‘well, there hadn’t really been a contest for the deputy leadership’,” he said.

Kevin Andrews in his Doncaster office. Picture: Josie Hayden

“I made that decision sort of spur of the moment because it just came up, so I thought there should be a contest, people should be able to decide who they want.”

A party room vote saw Mr Andrews lose 30 votes to 70, a greater margin than when Mr Andrews unsuccessfully challenged Mr Turnbull for the leadership in 2009 over the party’s support for an emissions trading scheme.

Mr Andrews said any future attempt by him to assume the Liberal leadership would happen under those circumstances rather than him “setting out and saying I want to be Prime Minister”.

“It has never been my burning ambition to be the leader of the party, but if circumstances arose which they did in both of those instances where I thought there should be a change or a contest, I am prepared to do it,” he said.

Mr Andrews said it was “true” he was a leader of the conservative side of the Liberal party.

“But I see that leadership as a kind of intellectual leadership,” he said.

“My view about politics is that if you get the policies right the politics will follow.”

The conservative politician has made headlines across Australia since being elected to represent the area in 1991.

As he gears up for another tilt at the seat, Mr Andrews revealed to Leader that he would ignore the result of a plebiscite on gay marriage and wanted greater attention on the issue of congestion on Manningham’s roads.

Mr Andrews also spoke of his frustration at being stripped of the social services ministry by ally Tony Abbott and later being sacked as Defence Minister by Malcolm Turnbull.

Kevin Andrews with former PM Tony Abbot during Question Time. Picture Kym Smith

LEADERSHIP

In the current parliament, Mr Andrews and the Liberal party under Tony Abbott stormed back to power in 2013 after six years on the opposition benches.

The return to government allowed Mr Andrews to achieve a long-held ambition, but it was to be a short-lived success.

“The (portfolio) I always wanted was, the name’s changed (over the years), but it was called social services when I had it,” Mr Andrews said.

“I suppose what motivated me to get into politics in terms of issues was around family-related issues, welfare, taxations for families, all of those sorts of things.

“I had social services for about 15 months before Tony (Abbott) asked me to change.”

In December 2014, Mr Abbott shuffled his cabinet and moved Mr Andrews into the defence portfolio.

Mr Andrews told Leader the change was “frustrating” as his work in social services started back in 2009 when he was shadow minister.

“That was the portfolio I enjoyed the most and, frankly, it was a little bit frustrating to only spend 15 months in it and have to go to another portfolio,” he said.

“But that’s just the nature of it I suppose.”

His time as Defence Minister was even shorter, however, with the elevation of Malcolm Turnbull to Prime Minister resulting in Mr Andrews being pushed to the backbench.

The Menzies MP said he was disappointed in both cases “because I felt like I was halfway through doing something”.

THE FUTURE

Asked if he saw himself returning to a portfolio at some stage, Mr Andrews said he “didn’t know”, but said he thought he could make a contribution if he was given a position.

“But that’s up to the Prime Minister of the day,” he said.

As a local member, Mr Andrews said he was “looking forward” to representing the people of Menzies for another three years and he would reassess his long-term future in 2018.

Kevin Andrews is joined by politicians (from left) Angus Taylor, Josh Frydenberg, David Gillespie and Tony Abbot as they prepare to head off on the 1000km Pollie Pedal 2016 charity ride. Picture: Ray Strange.

“If I feel I can continue to contribute and make some sort of difference then I would think of staying on,” he said.

The conservative MP also laid out his stance on the proposed plebiscite on gay marriage, which would take place under a re-elected Coalition Government.

Mr Andrews said he would vote against any legislation allowing same sex marriage, regardless of whether the majority of the public voted in favour of it.

“In the end, a plebiscite is an indication of what people think, but for me this would be one of those matters of conscience,” he said.

Mr Andrews said his opposition to same sex marriage was one of his “fundamental beliefs” and he was not about to change his mind.

Locally, Mr Andrews said many people were expressing frustration about the growing congestion and transport issues in Menzies.

As previously revealed by Leader, Mr Andrews has floated the idea of a feasibility study into the ‘missing’ north east link to take pressure off local roads.

“It’s not just from east to west on the freeway, what I’m picking up is a big concern about the congestion on Bulleen Rd and that sort of gridlock you get around Bulleen and Heidelberg every morning and afternoon,” he said.

“That’s an ongoing issue for a lot of people.”

BEGINNINGS

Although he is now nearly synonymous with federal parliament, Kevin Andrews’ hunger for a political career lay dormant for much of his early life.

Mr Andrews said he had harboured an interest in government from when he was a secondary student, but family life and his emerging career as a lawyer meant his political aspirations were left on the backburner for 10 years.

In 1991, he was offered the opportunity to take part in a sort of ‘politician boot camp’ designed to prepare candidates for the upcoming state election.

Mr Andrews signed up and almost immediately a vacancy opened up for a Liberal candidate in the federal seat of Menzies.

Federal MP Kevin Andrews with school kids crossing the busy Williamsons Rd. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Mr Andrews eventually triumphed in gaining preselection against a football team’s worth of candidates and easily won the subsequent by-election.

“So within the space of six months, from saying I should pursue this a bit more, I was in parliament,” he said.

“In a safe seat it is hard to get preselected and then you’ve got to maintain your preselection.”

Since 1991, Mr Andrews has enjoyed strong victories against a procession of non-Liberal candidates.

“I don’t ever take it for granted,” he said.

“My view is my primary responsibility is to represent the people that live here.”

Across the years, Mr Andrews picked up additional responsibilities, including stints as the minster for ageing, employment and workplace relations, immigration and citizenship, social services and defence.

Locally, Mr Andrews said the electorate’s key concerns about the economy, education, immigration and transport had remained constant for the past 25 years.

“When you look back, it is a relatively long time to be in parliament, although I feel like it was just yesterday that I was starting,” he said.