NSW MP Andrew Constance to quit state politics for tilt at federal seat

Scott Morrison has backed NSW Liberal minister and veteran Bega MP Andrew Constance’s decision to run for the federal seat of Gilmore ahead of the 2022 election.

‘I love our region, its people’: Andrew Constance Picture: Martin Rainer Helmreich

Scott Morrison has backed NSW Liberal minister and veteran Bega MP Andrew Constance’s decision to run for the federal seat of Gilmore ahead of the 2022 election, declaring the NSW MP was a straight-shooter with an “outstanding local reputation”.

Mr Constance on Sunday confirmed he would resign as his state’s transport minister this week and end his role as the member for Bega “by the end of this year” to run in the south coast seat.

It is the second time Mr Constance has announced his intention to run for federal parliament. Last year, he said he would run for the federal seat of Eden-Monaro before pulling out of the contest after an internal spat with NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro.

Mr Constance, who almost lost his home during the Black Summer fires, said he would not walk away from serving his local community while the NSW Liberal Party pursued a “new direction” following Gladys Berejiklian’s resignation over an ICAC probe.

“I love our region, its people, and I could not be more proud to continue to serve. From Black Summer to the pandemic, we are the strongest and most resilient communities that you will ever see,” he said.

Held by Labor’s Fiona Phillips on a margin of 2.6 per cent, Gilmore covers a large chunk of the state seat of Bega, including the Shoalhaven and south coast town centres of Nowra-Bomaderry, Kiama and Milton-Ulladulla.

The seat was contested for the Liberal Party in 2019 by Warren Mundine.

Mr Constance said he was heartbroken for his “long-term friend” Ms Berejiklian, calling her “one of the best premiers we have ever seen”

“Like so many of us, I am heartbroken for my long-time friend Gladys Berejiklian,” he said.

“By retiring from state cabinet and NSW parliament, I will provide an incoming leader the opportunity to fill this position. Gladys has been an amazing leader on both a personal and broader community level. Her care and support during Black Summer, in which we worked so closely together, is something that is very dear to my heart.”

The Prime Minister said he warmly welcomed Mr Constance’s decision to enter the preselection race. “Andrew has an outstanding local reputation and a great deal to offer at the federal level, especially given his experience in the NSW government.

“He tells it straight and would make a great member of our team,” he said.

There was much speculation on the hotly contested seat at the weekend when Gilmore was absent when a string of other seats including Eden-­Monaro, Greenway, Parramatta, Warringah and Werriwa, opened for preselection on Friday.

Nominations for Gilmore, which was the only non-Victorian seat that Labor won off the ­Coalition at the 2019 federal poll, will begin on November 1 and close on November 19.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard also backed Mr Constance’s decision. “Andrew has been a stalwart, he’s worked very, very hard as a state minister,” he said.

“He’s sacrificed a lot of himself for the community that he ­represents.

“No one can forget Andrew’s passion when there have been terrible events in his community, not just the pandemic, but also bushfires.”

Despite being publicly critical of Mr Morrison during the Black Summer fires, Mr Constance on Sunday said he had a good working relationship with the Prime Minister.

“I intend on being a fiercely independent person - being real and being honest. I will call it how I see it ... but I have a good working relationship with the Prime Minister,” he said.

Mr Constance was elected to the NSW government in 2003.