Michael O’Brien keeps Malvern seat; MP Frank McGuire criticises factionalism as cancer on the Labor Party
Michael O’Brien will remain the Liberal candidate for the seat of Malvern, while one of the opposition’s most outspoken MPs James Newbury survived a challenge in Brighton.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Former opposition legal affairs spokesman John Pesutto will be the Liberal Party candidate for Hawthorn at the next election.
Sources close to Mr Pesutto confirmed to the Herald Sun he was unopposed to contest the Labor-held seat.
The Liberal Party is expected to officially announce Mr Pesutto, who held the seat from 2014-18, had been endorsed, in just one of a few uncontested seats for the party in Melbourne’s east, after several prominent party figures were forced to fight out preselection battles.
Those familiar with Mr Pesutto said he was “humbled and keen” to return to politics and begin campaigning.
“With his experience and local knowledge, along with the work he has done over the last three years to rebuild following the 2018 election result, he will campaign tirelessly,” a source said.
Mr Pesutto has long been tipped as a future leader of the Liberal Party.
Ousted opposition leader Michael O’Brien will remain the Liberals’ candidate for the blue-ribbon seat of Malvern after seeing off a challenge from Stonnington councillor Alexander Lew.
It’s understood Mr O’Brien smashed the preselection vote, taking 99 votes to Mr Lew’s 59, with just four votes for lawyer Virginia Wallace.
It comes as James Newbury is set to remain the Liberal party’s candidate for the seat of Brighton at the state election.
Mr Newbury, who is one of the opposition’s most outspoken MPs, survived a challenge from Felicity Frederico on Sunday.
Ms Frederico previously lost state preselection contests in Sandringham and Brighton after serving two terms as a Bayside councillor, including a stint as mayor in 2015.
Mr Newbury, who currently serves as the opposition spokesman for scrutiny of government, equality and economic development, said he was grateful to win the support of the party.
“I am humbled and grateful to be re-endorsed as the Liberal candidate for Brighton,” he said.
“My wife Suzanne and I love our community and we will continue to work every day to make Brighton a better place to live.”
Mr O’Brien’s re-endorsement by the Liberal Party comes after he was dumped as Opposition Leader for Matthew Guy in September.
“I’m delighted to have such overwhelming support from Malvern Liberals,” Mr O’Brien told the Herald Sun.
“Their endorsement means that I can continue to represent the people of Malvern and take the fight up to the Andrews Labor Government.
“I’ve got big plans for Malvern, big plans for Victoria and can’t wait to get stuck in.”
“Thank you to the 160 Liberal Party members who met (Saturday) and overwhelmingly endorsed me as our candidate for Malvern in 2022,” he said.
“We showed that our party is run by members – not plastic powerbrokers.”
Liberals state director Sam McQuestin shared a picture of Greg Hannan and Mr O’Brien shaking hands as he confirmed the Liberal Victoria convention had recommended the ousted leader for preselection.
Cr Lew congratulated Mr O’Brien on his win.
“I wish him all the best,” Cr Lew said.
“He’ll be a strong candidate for Malvern.”
It’s understood the result, with Cr Lew nabbing 59 votes, was seen by those close to him as “incredibly encouraging”.
Rather than a loss, Cr Lew’s numbers were being seen by those in his camp as indicating a move within the Liberals towards a renewal of the party.
A preselection for the Kew seat, formerly held by Tim Smith before his drink-driving scandal, will be held later this afternoon with six candidates.
It comes after Frank McGuire called on Premier Daniel Andrews’ to intervene and save him from being kicked out as Labor’s candidate in Broadmeadows.
The MP, brother of Eddie McGuire, has lashed out at factional warlords who are seeking to preselect a new candidate in the very safe Labor seat in the 2022 election.
It is almost guaranteed he will be moved on, with candidates decided by the ALP’s national executive which is controlled by the groups who want to move him on.
Mr McGuire on Friday said factionalism was a cancer in the party and called on Mr Andrews to step in.
Factionalism is the cancer in the ALP. National Executive intervened in pre-selections to cut it out, They must not allow factional deals to hijack the process. Response to media at 1 pm today Hume Global Learning Centre 1093 Pascoe Vale Rd Broadmeadows. #auspol#vicpol#springst
— Frank McGuire MP (@Frank_McGuire) December 10, 2021
Today I addressed media reports of back room factional deals in the pre-selection process. Called on Daniel Andrews and Anthony Albanese to ensure this process is not corrupted by factional interests.
— Frank McGuire MP (@Frank_McGuire) December 10, 2021
“I’m calling the leadership and asking for the premier to intervene to ensure this process is not corrupted by backroom deals,” he said.
“The democratic process means I was preselected by the people of Broadmeadows where I grew up and have dedicated a decades long commitment and delivered know more than a billion dollars in shovel-ready and pipeline projects.
“Despite efforts to branch stack against me, I was humbled that at the last Victorian election the people of Broadmeadows delivered the highest primary vote for my candidacy and the ALP
“The democratic process must not be overlooked.
Factional powerbrokers are reducing this seat to a number for them to expand power.
“Let’s have that discussion. Really think about who does the premier want representing Labor communities in the next parliament.”
When Mr McGuire was first floated for Broadmeadows, he was not initially a Labor Party member and was appointed by the national executive with approval from Victorian Labor’s administrative committee.
In scenes similar to earlier this year, a group of unions took the party to court and demanded a local ballot but this was rejected.
However, this was done for one seat ahead of by-election, rather than the current situation in which every seat is being decided by the body ahead of a Victorian poll.
Mr McGuire said he would not trigger a by-election if he was ousted.
“I wouldn’t get involved in anything.
“ We’ve got a government that’s come through incredibly difficult times with a pandemic.
“We want to look forward … and that should be done in a way that is the best interest of people.”
He would not comment when asked whether members of the party or the premier himself had spoken to him about his future before it was revealed he was facing a challenge.
On Thursday, Mr McGuire broke his silence over the preselection issue, writing on Twitter: “National interest demands ALP backs leadership in Broadmeadows in a time of crisis, not factional power plays.”
Mr McGuire then shared a video of a speech made in parliament where he spruiks benefits for Broadmeadows delivered during his time in government.
“I was the community campaigner for more than a decade and the outsider the ALP recruited to replace former premier John Brumby,” he says in the video.
“I accepted because Broadmeadows has long suffered the worst placed-based discrimination in Victoria, a battle I had already fought pro bono for a decade.
“As the first person raised in Broadmeadows to represent this proud state district … I was humbled when the truest believers responded with the highest primary vote for Labor at the last Victorian election.
“This result defines why performance-based representation is crucial, especially in vulnerable communities.”
SITTING MPS FACE POLITICAL EXECUTION
At least three sitting Labor MPs will be pushed out of the party in preselection carnage after a powerful union agreed to a major reshuffle ahead of the 2022 election.
Labor sources confirmed on Thursday morning that Frank McGuire, Nazih Elasmar and Kaushaliya Vaghela are set to be challenged by well-backed replacements and as a result are almost guaranteed to be moved on from politics.
The moves are the latest in an all-out war breaking out across the party between factions currently in control and those facing political execution.
Candidates for 2022 will be decided by the ALP’s national executive, with factions the Socialist Left, Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, Transport Workers Union and members aligned with Stephen Conroy controlling enough votes on the body to get their candidates approved.
The deal has cut out the Australian Workers Union, the National Union of Workers and the Moderates faction once led by disgraced MP Adem Somyurek, sparking internal ructions.
Labor insiders speaking on the condition of anonymity have confirmed agreements ironed out by the SDA will see challenges to currently sitting MPs and a restructure of the upper house.
These changes are expected to be endorsed, even if the current Labor MPs renominate.
Broadmeadows MP Frank McGuire will be pressured to either retire or face being forced out after Kathleen Matthews-Ward, a local councillor, nominates with the backing of the SDA and the TWU.
Upper house president Nazih Elasmar will also be challenged by all but one of his parliamentary colleagues.
SDA-linked Enver Erdogan will move from the Southern Metro region to take the second-place spot on the Northern Metro ticket currently occupied by Mr Elasmar.
Sources have speculated that the 70-year-old could retire from politics before the election and he may now be forced to announce a decision because of the challenge.
Other moves to accommodate sitting ministers have also been signed off, with Attorney-
General Jaclyn Symes of the AWU to move to the top of her Northern Victoria ticket and Major Events Minister Martin Pakula to take the South East Metro spot vacated by Mr Somyurek.
In a shock move, Pascoe Vale MP Lizzie Blandthorn has secured a move to the upper house after insiders warned a recent distribution had made her seat more marginal.
She will move to the safe spot at the top of the Western Metro ticket held by Cesar Melhem, pushing the former AWU boss down a third spot, which Labor is much less likely to win.
The move would also see Kaushaliya Vaghela, an ally of Mr Somyurek, who has been mentioned in anti-corruption hearings, pushed out of parliament.
It comes just days after Mr Melhem urged the Premier to personally intervene and stop MPs from being rolled amid speculation disgruntled members could start crossing the floor and blocking government legislation.
There were also fears some could retire immediately and trigger by-elections.
Right-aligned figures who are part of the power sharing deal have been touting Ms Blandthorn as a future cabinet pick and wanted to secure a safe seat for a woman in their grouping.
Another AWU figure, Tien Kieu, is expected to be re-endorsed and remain in parliament if Labor secures enough votes in Melbourne’s southeast.
A newly created seat of Greenvale will be contested by Iwan Walters, a former teacher in regional Victoria who also has the backing of the influential factions.
ROBBED OF A FAIR FIGHT
A blind aspiring MP has lashed the Labor Party, saying he has been shut-out of a fair preselection race in the winnable seat of Ripon.
Tony Clark, 52, told the Herald Sun that he’s been sidelined because of a factional war and that Labor, and other political parties, were failing disabled Victorians because of a lack of representation.
Mr Clark, who lost his sight at age 19, is no stranger to politics having run as the Labor candidate for Ringwood in the 2014 state election, and in the federal seat of Deakin in 2016.
But he says the factional war that has engulfed Labor ahead of the close of preselection nominations on Friday has killed his chance to run at the 2022 state election.
A national takeover of the state party amid a branch stacking probe means the ALP national executive will decide preselections on the recommendations of factional bosses.
“I think everybody has been shut-out of a fair process,” Mr Clark said.
“The selection process is not actually on the merit of the candidate, it’s about who you’re aligned with and friends with.”
Premier Daniel Andrews has been accused of influencing the ongoing factional war to support his preferred candidates.
Martha Haylett, a former adviser to Mr Andrews, has nominated for the seat of Ripon and is expected to be the candidate of choice.
Mr Clark said he would still nominate for Ripon, which was won by Liberal MP Louise Staley by just 15 votes in 2018, even though he knew it would be futile.
“I’m not looking for special treatment, just a fair race,” he said.
The father of two said a lack of disabled representation was a problem for all political parties.
“We have one in five Australians who experience a disability, and we have all the political parties that talk about inclusion,” he said.
“Yet when you look at the political scene … there’s just absolutely no representation for people who experience disability either at a parliamentary level or even within a ministerial office.”
DAN ACCUSED OF SECRET CONTROL
Premier Daniel Andrews has been accused of influencing Labor’s ongoing factional war to support his preferred preselection candidates.
Sources say he has been quietly backing the selection of key candidates, including one of his own electorate office staffers.
They say Mr Andrews’ favoured candidates are winning out, even over others put forward by his faction, demonstrating his power within the party.
The Herald Sun can reveal that Emma Vulin, a staffer in Mr Andrews’ office, is expected to be selected as the candidate for the new seat of Pakenham for the 2022 election.
Her nomination came despite others in the Socialist Left faction suggesting Colin Ross, who ran for the party in Gembrook in 2014.
Insiders have disputed that Mr Andrews influenced Ms Vulin’s candidacy, but said the Premier believed she would be a good candidate.
She is among a host of candidates nominating for Socialist Left seats that are understood to have his support.
Martha Haylett, a former adviser to Mr Andrews, has nominated for the seat of Ripon and is also expected to be the candidate of choice.
In Richmond, Lauren O’Dwyer is tipped to win a contest against senior government adviser Clancy Dobbyn.
Mat Hilakari, the convener of the Premier’s faction, is running in the new safe seat of Point Cook, despite living in the Carrum area where the electorates are more marginal.
This is despite previous forecasts that Luba Grigorovitch – the state secretary of RTBU, a member of the rival Industrial Left faction – was a likely choice for that seat. Another Socialist Left figured, Dylan Wight, of the AMWU, will take the spot in Tarneit, which has moved to the Left in a reshuffle.
Labor’s national executive will decide on preselected candidates this weekend with the fates of future and current MPs in the hands of dominant factions, leading to the speculation Mr Andrews is influencing the final results.
Aggrieved former minister Adem Somyurek has claimed the Premier had previously given him a “hit list” of MPs he wanted him to “knock off”.
“Disendorsed by Nat X (national executive) means by Andrews himself,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Dan had given me a hit list on who he wanted me to knock off. He was going to play good cop and put his arm around the victims.”
Sitting MPs tipped to be ousted include Frank McGuire, Robin Scott, Marlene Kairouz and Kaushaliya Vaghela.
On Wednesday, it was revealed Tarneit MP Sarah Connolly will nominate – and is anticipated to be selected – for the new neighbouring seat of Laverton.
“The recent redistribution of the Tarneit electorate’s boundaries has largely split my seat in half and left me with an impossible decision to make,” she said.
Jana Stewart, a deputy secretary at the Department of Justice, is expected to nominate for a safe seat supported by Right-aligned factional bosses.
She would be the first Indigenous woman elected from that side of the party.
Burwood MP Will Fowles, whose electorate has been abolished, has nominated for Ringwood, which was vacated by Dustin Halse.
Join the conversation
Press Council Adjudication
The Press Council has decided that a cartoon breached its Standards of Practice.
Read more
Fake dead paraded through Melb, prams draped in head scarfs
The prams of babies have been draped with head scarfs and fake stretchers for the dead carried through city streets as pro-Palestine supporters gathered on the anniversary of terror attacks.
Read more