Keith Wolahan secures preselection win in Liberal seat of Menzies

Keith Wolahan has secured a preselection win in Liberal seat of Menzies, unseating former cabinet minister Kevin Andrews.

Keith Wolohan has defeated Kevin Andrews in a preselection battle.

A Melbourne barrister has successfully unseated former cabinet minister Kevin Andrews by winning preselection in the prized eastern suburbs Liberal seat of Menzies.

Special forces captain turned lawyer Keith Wolahan defeated Mr Andrews in a convincing 181-111 vote, despite expectations it would be close.

The result means Mr Andrews is the first sitting Victorian Liberal MP to be removed by members in more than two decades.

Speaking after the vote, Mr Wolahan said it was “was never a referendum” on Mr Andrews’ record.

“Today was a vote by the members for the future,” he said.

Mr Andrews’ defeat has been viewed by some Liberals as a rejection of the tactics employed by some of his supporters, which include Victoria’s most senior Liberal, Josh Frydenberg and Scott Morrison.

He also had the support of former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott.

One federal MP hit out at some colleagues for “trying to bully” Liberal Party members into voting for Mr Andrews.

Kevin Andrews

“Maybe federal ministers should have spent January with their families and doing their day jobs, instead of trying to bully branch members into giving Kevin Andrews three more years,” the anonymous MP said.

Mr Andrews, 65, was backed by Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar’s conservative faction while Mr Wolahan, 43, was supported by a more moderate group, including Victorian Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien.

Another federal MP said it was a “huge result” given the high-level endorsements Mr Andrews had.

“A very strong message from the members that they will choose their candidates and federal MPs are unwise to try to intervene in that,” the MP said. “Given the endorsements from all and sundry … it’s remarkable”

A state MP predicted the shock result would spark a wave of change across Victoria.

“There’s blood in the water now,” the MP said.

“This will embolden people to clean out the state parliamentary party.”

Another Liberal MP said: “Supporters of Mr Andrews conceded local Liberal members were persuaded by Mr Wolahan’s pitch for renewal in the party’s heartland seat after 30 years.”