Ex-minister Richard Colbeck targeted as Tasmanian Senate wannabes shake up Liberals
Tasmania’s Liberal Party faces a bruising internal stoush, with two conservative newcomers to shake up its Senate ticket.
Tasmania’s Liberal Party faces a bruising internal stoush, with two conservative newcomers to shake up its Senate ticket, including one who wants to displace a Turnbull and Morrison-era minister.
The Weekend Australian can reveal two ambitious conservatives – Brendan Blomeley and Simon Behrakis – will seek Senate preselection for the next federal election.
This is despite the party having two incumbent senators up for re-election – Richard Colbeck and Claire Chandler – both of whom intend to run again. Only the party’s top two Senate spots are seen as winnable.
Mr Behrakis, a former businessman and current Hobart City Council alderman and state government adviser – is understood to be content with the No.3 spot, should party preselectors prefer to favour the two incumbents.
It is highly unlikely the Liberals would win a third seat, with Labor likely to win two of the six up for grabs and Jacqui Lambie and Greens senator Nick McKim the remaining two.
However, the No.3 spot on the Liberal ticket would leave Mr Behrakis, 33, well-placed to fill any casual vacancy that might arise in the years after the election, due in 2025, and further identify him as a rising star. Creating more concern in terms of party unity is the intention of Mr Blomeley, Mayor of Clarence on Hobart’s eastern shore, to seek the No.2 spot at Senator Colbeck’s expense.
Supporters of Senator Colbeck, 65, argue he has enormous experience as a former minister and helps maintain both the geographic and ideological balance in the party, as a northwest-based relative moderate.
However, Mr Blomeley’s backers say the party needs renewal, and ideological balance is “less of an issue”, while Braddon Liberal MP Gavin Pearce ensures the party’s flag is flown in the northwest.
They argue Mr Blomeley, 48, would help the party improve its support in the state’s south, where it is struggling to win lower house seats.
Mr Behrakis is understood to have indicated a willingness to spend time in the state’s north should he be elected.
Adding to the internal implications, the two challengers are backed by rival conservative powerbrokers – Mr Behrakis by senator Jonno Duniam and Mr Blomeley by former senator Eric Abetz.
Some in the party believe Mr Abetz is “on a crusade” to restore his power and exact retribution for his demotion to the No.3 spot on the party’s Senate ticket at the 2022 election.
Others accuse Senator Duniam – like Mr Behrakis, a former acolyte of Mr Abetz – of encouraging some conservatives to stand for party positions to counter Mr Abetz’s efforts.
The Senate ticket outcome, to be decided by the party’s 67-strong preselection committee on November 25, has wider implications federally.
An escalation of factional hostilities may fuel a push by some conservatives to deselect Bass Liberal MP Bridget Archer, although most sources appear confident the leading moderate will survive.
More broadly, loss of Senator Colbeck in favour of another conservative would bolster the position of the party’s right faction.
All of those involved said it would be inappropriate to comment on internal party matters.
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