NSW Liberal Senate candidates whittled down to three

NSW Liberal Party president Maria Kovacic has emerged as the moderate’s preferred candidate for the vacant Senate position.

NSW Liberal Party president Maria Kovacic. Picture: John Grainger

NSW Liberal Party president Maria Kovacic has emerged as the moderates’ preferred candidate for the vacant federal Senate position, but doubts remain on whether she has sufficient factional support to secure the nomination.

A preselection for the party’s fourth NSW Senate spot – vacated after senator Jim Molan died in January – is expected to go to ahead in mid-May after an extended delay because of the March state election that saw former premier Dominic Perrottet’s government voted out.

After considerable jostling, potential candidates have been whittled down to three, with moderates expected to meet later this week to nominate the faction’s preferred candidate from Ms Kovacic, former Bega MP Andrew Constance and Salesforce executive director Gisele Kapterian.

Despite Mr Constance seemingly being anointed by Catholic Schools NSW chief executive Dallas McInerney, tagged by many onlookers as the favourite before he withdrew from the running, sources said Ms Kovacic was firming as the frontrunner, should she choose to run.

Insiders said the moderates faction was eager to see a woman fill the vacancy, and noted Ms Kovacic’s credentials in western Sydney, an area that saw decisive swings to Labor at the state election.

However, the pathway was not straightforward if Ms Kovacic did decide to nominate, one moderate MP said. She would be required to resign as president of the NSW division, and it was uncertain she could garner sufficient support across the factions to reach the 50 per cent plus one threshold necessary to win at preselection.

The uncertainty arose from dislike for Ms Kovacic among elements of the Right stemming from her time as president, and the expected support for Mr Constance among other elements of the Right aligned with Mr McInerney.

Former Bega MP Andrew Constance. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Salesforce executive director Gisele Kapterian.

One moderate powerbroker said while the moderates wouldn’t have sufficient support, they were confident Ms Kovacic would be able to command. Ms Kapterian was expected to come into frame if it became clear resistance to the NSW Liberal president would prevent her from getting over the line.

According to Liberal sources, Mr Constance has said he will take the Senate spot until the next election, putting the electoral office in the south coast and using the position as a springboard to run for the Labor-held seat of Gilmore.

He has yet to formally nominate for the position.

Liberal sources said Mr Constance could still be successful if he was able to cobble together enough support from conservatives and the soft-right.

Ms Kovacic emerged as a potential candidate last Thursday when 15 senior moderates met to consider available options.

The party’s state executive will open nominations for the Senate vacancy this week, with pre­selection to take place on May 27 or 28.

Jess Collins has decided to run as a conservative-backed candidate for the Senate vacancy.

Ms Kovacic unsuccessfully ran in the seat of Parramatta at the 2022 federal election.