Eden-Monaro by-election: Michael McCormack says Nats will run in Eden-Monaro as Labor MP Mike Kelly quits
Michael McCormack has declared he would back a ‘very strong local candidate’ to win the Eden-Monaro by-election.
Michael McCormack has confirmed he will back a “very strong local candidate” to win the Eden-Monaro by-election for the Nationals, adding NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro will consider entering the race this weekend.
Ahead of a three-cornered contest with Labor and the Liberal Party following Mike Kelly’s resignation, the Deputy Prime Minister said the Nationals would run in the southern NSW seat for the 12th time in the party’s 100-year history.
“We will be putting ourselves forward at this by-election with a very strong local candidate and our plan to secure Eden-Monaro’s future,” Mr McCormack said.
“Whilst no government has won a seat from the opposition in a by-election in the past 100 years, the Coalition Scott Morrison and I lead have a strong plan to help the many local communities of Eden-Monaro continue to rebuild.”
Mr McCormack said Mr Barilaro would discuss a run for Eden-Monaro with his family over the weekend.
“If he decides to put his hand up he’s got to go through the preselection process, that’s always the case. The locals get to decide who’s going to be their candidate,” Mr McCormack said.
“If John wants to put his hand up and run, of course I’ll support him.
“We need a good, local person to run in that seat and to contest that seat and hopefully win that seat and John certainly is a good local candidate.”
Mr Barilaro confirmed on Thursday morning that he was weighing up whether to contest the seat for the National Party.
“I’ll definitely consider it … I can’t rule it out, don’t rule it in,” Mr Barilaro told Sky News.
“Everybody’s got to be honest with themselves and it will be something that I’ll weigh up over the next few days once an announcement’s been made.”
He said his strong track record would put him in a good place to win. “I am confident I have the vision, I’ve got the work ethic,” he said. “But at the same time I take nothing for granted.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison previously confirmed the Liberal Party would contest the seat.
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance and Liberal senator Jim Molan have been touted as possible candidates, along with former state Labor candidate Bryce Wilson.
Mr Barilaro’s state electorate covers the Queanbeyan area, where the majority of the Eden-Monaro population resides. “If I do this, I do this knowing I could be out of politics,” he said.
Mr Barilaro says a three-cornered contest isn’t in the coalition’s best interests, adding he would not run against Mr Constance.
Mr McCormack, who holds the adjoining NSW federal seat of Riverina, described Dr Kelly as a friend.
“As local members for neighbouring electorates, we have worked well together for many years. I want to thank Mike for his outstanding leadership and tireless advocacy for people in southern New South Wales,” he said.
“Whilst Mike represents Labor and I lead the Nationals, during the summer bushfires any political or philosophical differences meant nothing. We spoke on an hourly basis, ensuring we were providing the neighbouring towns and communities we represent with the best support possible through those devastating weeks and months.
“Mike has been battling health issues for some time and I wish him all the best as he deals with those ordeals going forward. Mike will come out the other side, stronger for it because that’s how tough and determined he is.”
Kelly quits politics
Dr Kelly quit federal politics on Thursday morning, ending months of speculation about his future.
Health conditions relating to his service in Iraq are understood to be the reasons behind the decision to stand down.
“I don’t believe I can continue to do the job to the extent — and with the commitment and the physical demand — that I would want to,” Dr Kelly told the ABC.
Dr Kelly said the decision was gut-wrenching but added he believed a by-election would bring local issues, including the bushfire crisis, to the fore.
“No region has suffered more through the double whammy, if you like, of climate change, bushfires and the coronavirus situation than Eden-Monaro, so it will be an opportunity for our issues to be front and centre, for our particular trauma to be addressed, and it will be our competition for who can provide those answers for our community.’’
On speculation that Mr Barilaro may contest the seat, Premier Gladys Berejiklain said she did not want to “lose anyone from her team”.
“We have a strong team and obviously I want that team to stay in tact,” she said. “But they are personal decisions for my colleagues.”
Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek earlier praised Mr Kelly. “He is a fantastic human being,” she told the ABC. “He’s served Australia in many, many theatres of war, on the front line overseas, extraordinarily brave, intelligent, compassionate man, who has contributed not just through his military career but made an extraordinary contribution in our federal parliament.”
Bega mayor Kristy McBain is likely to run for Labor.
Eden-Monaro also takes in the bushfire-hit town of Cobargo, whose residents gave Scott Morrison an extremely hostile reception earlier this year.
Additional reporting: Angelica Snowden , AAP
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