Retired general Molan to succeed Sinodinos

Jim Molan has won the Liberal Senate preselection to replace Arthur Sinodinosuntil the next election.

Major General (Retired) Jim Molan has won Liberal preselection for the Senate. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Retired major general and former senator Jim Molan has won the Liberal Senate preselection to ­replace Arthur Sinodinos for a casual vacancy until the next election.

He beat off a challenge from Woollahra Deputy Mayor Richard Shields, and thanked Prime Minister Scott Morrison, broadcaster Alan Jones and former prime minister John Howard for his victory.

Mr Shields finished second in the ballot of 564 state council delegates in Sydney on Sunday, losing in the distribution of preferences 260 votes to 321.

Mr Molan was a senator from 2017 until the May election but, after being preselected for an “unwinnable” spot on the Coalition’s ticket, caused disquiet in the Liberal Party by campaigning on a “below-the-line” ticket at the election. Despite this controversy, Mr Morrison backed him in Sunday’s preselection.

This was partly because Mr Molan has agreed with factional chiefs to leave the Senate after two years, preventing a potentially damaging further preselection fight at the next election.

The first preference vote was 277 to Mr Molan, 153 to Mr Shields, 81 to heart surgeon ­Michael Feneley, 43 to David Brady, 18 to Benjamin Collins, five to Peter Hendy and four to Robin Fitzsimons.

“I stand before you today very humbled simply by the fact the Liberal Party of NSW has voted decisively to put me back into the Senate,” Mr Molan said.

“I do need to thank the Prime Minister, he’s been fabulous in his support. He’s the captain of our team and I’m honoured to be welcomed back into the team.”

He said Mr Howard was the team’s “greatest captain” and thanked Jones for writing him a reference.

Mr Molan said he had “no regrets” over his below-the-line campaign, saying: “I thank the people of NSW who voted for me in great numbers.”

He confirmed he would not run for the Senate again. “It’s not a short stint, it’s 2½ years. That’s a long time,” Mr Molan said.

Mr Sinodinos will replace Joe Hockey as ambassador to the US.