Roshena Campbell will go head to head with Labor candidate Mary Doyle in the Aston by-election
The barrister and Melbourne City councillor has been chosen as the Liberal candidate in the upcoming by-election after Alan Tudge’s resignation.
Victoria
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Roshena Campbell has been tasked with fighting to retain the eastern suburbs seat of Aston for the Liberals following the resignation of former minister Alan Tudge.
The barrister and Melbourne City councillor Roshena Campbell will go head to head with Labor candidate and former unionist, Mary Doyle, when voters head to the polls on Saturday, April 1.
Liberal leader Peter Dutton will on Wednesday head to Aston, which the party holds on a 2.8 per cent margin, ahead of the first real test for both him and Anthony Albanese.
Ms Campbell was picked by the Victorian Liberal’s administrative committee on Tuesday night, a move that angered some local Liberals, as the party rushed to get a candidate on the ground.
Backed by former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, she beat oncologist Ranjana Srivastava and former state MP Cathrine Burnett-Wake gaining 13 of the 19 votes.
Former Knox mayor Emanuele Cicchiello withdrew from the race on Tuesday afternoon.
Victorian State President Greg Mirabella said Ms Campbell was an articulate, knowledgeable and down-to-earth person.
“Roshena Campbell has the potential to be a senior minister in a future Dutton government,” Mr Mirabella said.
“I have no doubt she will be hitting the ground, not just running but racing.”
Mr Dutton did not shy away from making it known that he wanted a female candidate to replace Mr Tudge, who had held the seat for almost 13 years.
He said Ms Campbell would be a “great local champion” and had a record of fighting for small businesses, families and good causes.
“We’ve got a great candidate in Roshena, and she’ll be a great advocate in the parliament because she will work hard to represent the seat,” Mr Dutton said.
He said families in Aston were feeling the pinch from higher interest rates and living costs, and took the opportunity to remind voters that Labor cut five infrastructure projects within the electorate in the October budget.
Early voting will open on Monday, March 20.
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