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This was published 6 years ago

Turnbull government minister defeated in LNP preselection

By Toby Crockford

A Brisbane councillor has been chosen over a current Turnbull government assistant minister to stand in a west Brisbane seat at the next federal election.

Walter Taylor Ward councillor Julian Simmonds has been picked instead of Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services Jane Prentice to run in the seat of Ryan at the next election.

Cr Simmonds' preselection meant a council byelection would have to be called, should he be successful, if the federal election is called more than a year before the scheduled 2020 council election.

Otherwise, Cr Simmonds' seat in council could be treated as a casual vacancy, with his successor appointed by the LNP.

Jane Prentice was elected to Federal Parliament in 2010.

Jane Prentice was elected to Federal Parliament in 2010.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

LNP president Gary Spence said Cr Simmonds had been a strong and effective voice in Brisbane City Council and earned the respect of his community.

“He will now work hard to be elected by the community, so he can take his passion and drive to get things done to the Australian Parliament,” Mr Spence said.

Cr Simmonds said he was pleased to have been selected to stand in the federal election.

“There will be a very clear choice for voters, the LNP that manages the economy responsibly for the benefit of all Australians, or Labor – who wants to impose higher taxes, and take more income from the pensioners and self-funded retirees who live in this community," he said.

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“Locals tell me that they can’t stomach the thought of Bill Shorten becoming Prime Minister. I’ll be doing all that I can to make sure that never happens.

“I’ll be standing up and fighting for our area – I won’t stand by as Labor and the Greens try and take what our residents have spent a lifetime building simply because Labor and the Greens can’t manage a budget or the Australian economy.”

Brisbane councillor Julian Simmonds will contest Ryan for the LNP at the next federal election.

Brisbane councillor Julian Simmonds will contest Ryan for the LNP at the next federal election.

Comment has been sought from Mrs Prentice.

Mrs Prentice was herself the councillor for Walter Taylor Ward when she won preselection in 2012, being replaced in Brisbane City Hall by Cr Simmonds.

She sought LNP preselection after former LNP Ryan MP Michael Johnson, after he was expelled from the party when it found he had misused his parliamentary resources.

Previously, Cr Simmonds was employed as Mrs Prentice's policy liaison officer at Brisbane City Council, when Mrs Prentice held the public transport portfolio in future premier Campbell Newman's City Hall administration.

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Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/turnbull-government-minister-defeated-in-lnp-preselection-20180512-p4zewj.html