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Business Council director wins Kew preselection over shadow treasurer
By Rachel Eddie, Paul Sakkal and Sumeyya Ilanbey
Business Council of Australia director Jess Wilson has been endorsed as the Liberal candidate for the seat of Kew, emphatically knocking out one of the party’s most-senior figures in the final vote.
Shadow treasurer and veteran MP David Davis will remain in the upper house after a bruising defeat 99-64, sources say, following almost four hours of deliberations at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday afternoon.
Jess Wilson, who is nominating to preselect for the seat of Kew, arriving on Saturday.Credit: Eddie Jim
Ms Wilson, a policy director at the Business Council, had the backing of her former boss federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and is an ally of federal senator James Paterson.
She said she was “absolutely humbled” by the support from local members who saw a need for renewal in the party, which has been grappling with how to increase the number of women in its ranks.
“I was very encouraged by the support from the start. I think party members saw the need for renewal and a new fresh face in the Parliament,” Ms Wilson said following her victory.
“I’m really excited to get on the ground, work with [members], work with the voters in Kew and make sure we can help return a Liberal government next November.”
Shadow treasurer arrives to contest preselection for the seat of Kew.Credit: Eddie Jim
Several Liberal sources said the crushing vote for Mr Davis made his role as leader of the opposition in the upper house untenable, after 25 years in the Legislative Council.
One senior Liberal opined the party had sent a clear message to Mr Davis in Saturday’s vote. “He should listen to it,” the MP said.
He confirmed he would recontest for the upper house and lend his support to Ms Wilson in the hopes of forming a Liberal government in the 2022 election.
“No, not the result I wanted. But it’s democracy, this is how democracy works,” Mr Davis said.
“[Ms Wilson is] a very good person, and she’ll be a good candidate. I wish her well, and she’ll have my full support.”
Former Liberal premier Ted Baillieu declared his support for Ms Wilson on Saturday night, describing her as a “highly capable, intelligent and experienced individual with a wide support base”.
“She is a proud liberal and has a terrific and impressive track record.”
Senior Liberal sources have speculated outgoing MP Tim Smith — once considered a future leader who crashed his car while drunk in October — was likely to trigger a byelection rather than see out the next year, given he supported Mr Davis to take Kew.
An October 2021 redrawing of electoral boundaries means the seat – once a Liberal stronghold – is notionally held by just 4.5 per cent.
Michael O’Brien outside the Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday after being re-endorsed.Credit: Eddie Jim
The vote was also contested by lawyer Monica Clark, Victoria Police acting senior sergeant Felicity Sinfield, construction firm executive Lucas Moon and construction manager Michael Sabljak.
Earlier on Saturday, former Liberal leader Michael O’Brien survived a challenge and was re-endorsed as the candidate for Malvern.
It is extremely rare for a sitting MP to be challenged. On Sunday, James Newbury will also need to survive a preselection challenge in the seat of Brighton.
Mr O’Brien won a preselection vote 99-57-4 at Caulfield Racecourse after a tilt from Stonnington councillor Alexander Lew and Virginia Wallace, a director of Tennis Victoria, in the months after he was ousted as party leader.
Following his successful preselection battle, Mr O’Brien said he planned to discuss a potential return to the shadow cabinet with Mr Guy.
“I love the fact I’ve got such an overwhelming endorsement from local Liberal party members … Today, the Liberal Party backed me and I’m delighted by that,” he said.
“I just want to see Victoria have a better government than the one they’ve got at the moment, and I’ll do anything that I can to try and help us get there.
“I understand there’s a vacancy now in shadow cabinet, I’ll certainly have that conversation with Matthew [Guy] and the leadership team.”
With Ashleigh McMillan
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