Courtney Mann named Liberal candidate for Mulgrave by-election

A man who works in Opposition Leader John Pesutto’s office has been chosen as the Liberal Party pick for the Mulgrave by-election.

The Liberal Party has announced its pick for the Mulgrave by-election after Daniel Andrews’ shock exit from politics.

Former Mulgrave candidate and current staffer for Oppoition Leader John Pesutto, Courtney Mann, has won preselection for the former Premier’s seat.

Congratulations to Courtney Mann who has been selected as the candidate for Mulgrave in the upcoming by-election. #springstpic.twitter.com/iLfsw02W0a

— Liberal Victoria (@LiberalVictoria) October 25, 2023

In a statement on Wednesday night, the Coalition said Mr Mann - who grew up in the electorate and lived in the area for 25 years - would “offer an important choice for the people of Mulgrave”.

“Courtney will make an excellent candidate and offer an important choice for the people of Mulgrave when they go to the polls next month,” it said.

Mr Mann works in Mr Pesutto’s office in a policy role, and has previously been an adviser for other Liberal MPs, including Gordon Rich Phillips.

At the 2010 state election, he attempted a run against Mr Andrews, achieving an eight per cent primary vote swing.

“He is highly respected across the party and, if elected, would provide a strong voice for the people of Mulgrave in the Victorian Parliament,” the statement read.

Jeff Kennett’s Mulgrave warning

Voters will head back to the polls on November 18 to elect a replacement for the former Premier who held the seat since 2002.

Independent Ian Cook, the man at the centre of the long-running slug-gate scandal, has confirmed he will also recontest the seat.

It prompted warnings from pollsters and former Premier Jeff Kennett that the Liberal Party not field a candidate.

Daniel Andrews has held the seat of Mulgrave since 2002. Picture: Getty

But a meeting of the party’s powerful administrative committee on Thursday night resolved to contest the seat.

At last year’s election, Mr Cook – who is suing the government over claims health officials planted a slug in the company’s kitchen – won 39.2 per cent of the vote after preferences, while Mr Andrews secured 60.8 per cent.

It contributed to a 8.5 per cent swing against Mr Andrews, which cut the margin to 10.2 per cent.

Pollster Kos Samaras, director at RedBridge, said Mr Cook’s nomination made it extremely difficult for the Liberal Party to “make a show of it”.

Ian Cook with a voter in the Mulgrave electorate during the 2022 Victorian election. Picture: Mark Stewart

“At the last election his nomination bled the Liberals more than Labor,” he said.

RedBridge Co-director Tony Barry, a former Liberal Party strategist, said it made no sense for the party to run.

“The political orthodoxy was to run in by-election campaigns if there was an opportunity to tap into a protest vote,” he said.

“However, with the new electoral funding laws, political party’s now need to weigh up the cost of running a campaign and what that does to the funds they’ll have available in 2026.

“The smart play for the Liberal Party is to not run in Mulgrave and allow Ian Cook and his supporters to take a big crack at it.”

There were internal party concerns about funding a by-election campaign, with a view that the money would be better spent fighting the next general election.

There were also concerns about the potential fallout for Opposition Leader John Pesutto, should the party not record a healthy swing.

Mr Pesutto’s leadership was tested at August’s Warrandyte by-election which the Liberals, picking up a 10 per cent swing.

However Labor did not contest the election, meaning Mulgrave would emerge as a critical test of Mr Pesutto’s leadership.

Former Premier Jeff Kennett this week called on the party not to run a candidate.

“Instead, we should allow Ian Cook to run for a second time as an independent if he chooses to do so,” he wrote in a column for the Herald Sun.

“We in the Liberal Party have always said we should fly the flag, stand candidates in every seat on every occasion.

“Our major opponents do not do that, they are more selective. So should the Liberal Party be.

“Political parties are not always very smart and want to reward long- serving members with parliamentary seats.”

Greater Dandenong mayor Eden Foster has been endorsed to run as Labor’s candidate.

The Greens have confirmed they will contest the seat, endorsing local councillor Rhonda Garad.