‘Honour to follow Jim Molan’: Maria Kovacic beats Andrew Constance to NSW Liberals’ Senate spot

The Liberals have preselected Maria Kovacic to replace the late Jim Molan in the Senate, the former NSW state president beating Andrew Constance to the spot on Saturday.

Maria Kovacic will enter the Senate after securing preselection on Saturday. Picture: Damian Shaw

The Liberals have preselected former NSW state president Maria Kovacic to replace the late Jim Molan in the Senate.

Ms Kovacic beat former state treasurer and transport minister Andrew Constance to the spot, winning 287-243.

The member of the moderate faction resigned as NSW Liberal president last month to contend for the position.

Following her preselection, Ms Kovacic paid tribute to Molan and his service.

“Jim had dedicated his life to our nation, through his service in the Australian Army and as an outstanding Liberal Senator for New South Wales,” she said.

“It is a special honour to be preselected to follow in Jim’s footsteps, to be given this special opportunity to fight for a better Australia and New South Wales.”

Ms Kovacic spoke on her business background, which involves running her own mortgage business and finance business for 16 years, as well as her cultural upbringing.

“As a daughter of migrants, I learned early on about aspirational values that drive our community. My parents fled communism for a better life in Australia and taught me about the importance of fighting for things that are important and working to build a better place for everyone.”

She said she intends to hold the Albanese government to account for its “broken promises and bad decisions”.

“Instead of a $275 reduction in power bills, our power bills are going up and forecast to rise by more than 30 per cent,” Ms Kovacic said.

“This is a critical time for our community, as families struggle with the spiralling costs of living and businesses are forced to confront serious economic challenges.

“I will be focused on the needs of people across our state and keeping the Labor government to account in the Senate, to ensure that they address the key challenges faced by our communities.”

Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley welcomed Ms Kovacic to the Senate and described her as a “formidable woman and fitting replacement”.

“As Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, one of my key priorities has been to get more women elected into our party room as quickly as possible,” she said.

“The only way we can address – and rectify – the gender imbalance in our parliamentary ranks is by preselecting more women and I am thrilled that my home division, the New South Wales branch, has chosen to do that today.

“Maria understands what it is like to start and grow a business in Western Sydney, to take a risk, to employ staff, and to manage the challenges of running an enterprise.

“By bringing this real-world experience in small business and community service to Canberra, Maria will be a strong addition to our federal Liberal team.

“Maria has always understood that only the Liberal Party can deliver for the cities, the suburbs and the regions.”

As a community leader in Western Sydney & an accomplished businesswoman with more than 20 years of experience in the commercial, public & NFP sectors, Maria Kovacic is a formidable woman & a fitting replacement for the late, great Major General Jim Molan AO DSC. Congratulations!

— Sussan Ley (@sussanley) May 27, 2023

Former Linday MP Fiona Scott, charity business executive David Brady, Lowy Institute research fellow Jessica Collins and former army officer James Brown also contested the spot.

About 700 Liberal Party members attended the preselection vote at Fullerton Hotel in Sydney, where Ms Kovacic reportedly garnered support from the moderate and centre-right factions.

She spoke on her Croatian heritage and childcare, home ownership and economic management.

Ms Kovacic has a particular interest in advocating for the needs of women, small business and migrants.

She holds more than 20 years experience across commercial, public and not-for-profit sectors and has founded and ran her own business in Western Sydney as well as served on boards and committees.

Ms Kovacic previously ran in last year’s federal election for the lower house seat of Parramatta but lost out to Labor candidate Andrew Charlton.

Before Ms Kovacic can assume the seat in the Senate, the NSW parliament will have to endorse her preselection.

The Senate spot became available when Molan died on January 16 this year following a “sudden and rapid” decline in health.

He was appointed to the seat in 2019 after Arthur Sinodinos resigned.