Former PMs spread the love for Warrandyte Lib preselection hopefuls

Toppling Josh Frydenberg has not been enough to garner Teal disrupter Monique Ryan a King’s Birthday honour — despite reports suggesting otherwise.

Monique Ryan has been forced to clarify she did not pick up a King’s Birthday honour. Picture: Martin Ollman

Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers.

Some unexpected bouquets for ex-politicians featured in the long list of the King’s Birthday awards on Sunday.

But generally, the “former” status applies, that is, the nods (misplaced or not) apply to few active politicians.

So some confusion arose when it was reported that Dr Monique Ryan, the Teal giant slayer for Kooyong, had been recognised after about five minutes of serving in the political cauldron.

She was compelled to tweet a clarification: “Thanks to all for the kind wishes, but I was not awarded an (sic) King’s Birthday honour today.

“I’ve asked the Guardian to make a correction.

“Congratulations to Prof Renae Monique Ryan, from NSW, who sounds like a good sort. Excellent work Renae.”

Thanks to all for the kind wishes, but I was not awarded an King’s Birthday honour today.

I’ve asked the Guardian to make a correction.

Congratulations to Prof Renae Monique Ryan, from NSW, who sounds like a good sort. Excellent work Renae.

— Dr Monique Ryan MP (@Mon4Kooyong) June 11, 2023

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PMs share the love for Warrandyte Lib preselection hopefuls

As the Source has reported, Liberal hopeful Allison Troth is armed with a reference from former prime minister John Howard in her fight for party preselection for the upcoming by-election in Warrandyte.

But she is not the only candidate with prime ministerial support.

John Roskam boasts the backing of former prime minister Tony Abbott, who wrote that the former boss of the Institute of Public Affairs is “precisely the kind of candidate needed to boost the intellectual and cultural strength and steeliness of our parliamentary party”.

Yet Roskam has the endorsement of two former prime ministers. For Howard has chosen to spread the love, and written a reference to Troth, a “person of excellent character”, as well as Roskam, whom he endorsed for Roskam’s losing preselection battle against now Opposition Leader John Pesutto in 2014.

John Roskam has received endorsements from both John Howard and Tony Abbott.

So Roskam has the support of two PMs, a PM’s chief of staff in Peta Credlin, and a founder of Bakers Delight, Lesley Gillespie (and the glowing endorsement by former MP Tim Smith, which Roskam might best pretend never happened).

But he may not gain the endorsement of his “friend” (as Abbott put it) Pesutto, who has aired a preference for a local female candidate.

The early word is that state moderate Liberals are coalescing around candidate Sarah Overton, a once ministerial Adviser to former state Minister, Mary Wooldridge.

Overton, for the record, boasts a reference from former federal senator Nick Minchin.