Bridget McKenzie: Deputy Nationals leader won’t rule out Mallee tilt

Bridget McKenzie had words of support for her Nationals chief, but the questions she refused to answer have raised eyebrows.

Nationals Leader Michael McCormack (right) and deputy Bridget McKenzie join Agriculture Minister David Littleproud (centre) at a press conference in Canberra. Picture: AAP

Deputy Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie is refusing to rule out running for the federal Victorian seat of Mallee, two days after disgraced MP Andrew Broad decided not to run for re-election.

The senator’s term isn’t due to expire until 2022, but there’s speculation she is plotting a move to the lower house to position herself for a future leadership bid.

“There’s been a lot of speculation in recent times about what I, as Senator for Victoria, am going to do. I can tell you what I’m not going to do,” she told reporters in Wagga today.

“It is not going to give up on representing the great state of Victoria, give up for fighting for rural and regional Australia. I’m deputy leader of the Nationals.

“My role is to support the strong leadership of Michael McCormack and what we as a team have been able to deliver this year for regional Australia.”

Senator McKenzie has been the best-known touted candidate for Mallee, as Nationals figures call for a woman to replace Mr Broad in the run up to the next federal election.

He will retire after two terms in office, following revelations he used a “sugar daddy” website to meet younger women overseas.

Disgraced MP Andrew Broad will not contest the seat of Mallee at the next federal election. Picture: Kym Smith

A woman named ‘Amy’ was at the centre of the ‘sugar babe’ scandal that claimed Andrew Broad. Picture: Supplied

The fallout of the “sugar daddy” scandal has led to questions over Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack’s leadership, with both Senator McKenzie and former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce named as possible replacements.

Senator McKenzie reiterated her support for Mr McCormack, and suggested she would not support a return to Mr Joyce, after he fell over an affair with his former staffer Vikki Campion.

“I think three of the most difficult weeks of my political career were supporting our previous leader as he sought to get the balance right between his personal and professional life,” she said.

“And I think they were incredibly difficult, but the National Party has remained strong, we have continued to deliver for our community and I can’t think of a better partner to deliver for regional Australia than our leader and the acting Prime Minister, Michael McCormack.”