Liberals pick Fiona Kotvojs for Eden-Monaro

Dr Fiona Kotvojs has decisively won a vote of Liberal Party members to contest the federal seat of Eden-Monaro.

Fiona Kotvojs, Liberal candidate for Eden Monaro.

Fiona Kotvojs has decisively won a vote of Liberal Party members and is expected again to be the party’s candidate for the marginal federal seat of Eden-Monaro, in south-east NSW, at the coming by-election.

Dr Kotvojs, a former teacher, scientist and small-business operator from Dignams Creek, won the members’ vote on Saturday over defence department official Mark Schweikert. Dr Kotvojs was narrowly defeated at the 2019 federal election.

It means she will become the Liberal candidate in the upcoming Eden-Monaro by- election, subject to formal party endorsement expected this weekend.

The Eden-Monaro seat was left vacant after the retirement of Labor MP Mike Kelly, who narrowly beat Dr Kotvojs in the 2019 election.

Labor has preselected former Bega mayor Kristy McBain, who has been on the campaign trail since earlier this month.

The by-election earlier this month sparked tension between NSW state ministers John Barilaro and Andrew Constance, after both coalition MPs pulled out of the race.

Mr Constance – the Liberal Transport Minister – withdrew only 24 hours after seeking preselection when a newspaper front page revealed Mr Barilaro had used a crude word to describe him to colleagues.

Mr Barilaro – the state Nationals leader and Deputy Premier – had previously announced he would not be contesting the seat.

Nationals leader Michael McCormack, meanwhile, has said his party has not yet given up on running a candidate in the by-election.

A date for the by-election has not been set, but is expected in late June or early July.

By-elections on average swing against the government of the day by about 3 per cent.

AAP