Scott Morrison confirms Liberals will run in any Eden-Monaro by-election
The PM confirms the Libs will run in Eden-Monaro, all but denying John Barilaro a clear path to federal parliament.
Scott Morrison has confirmed the Liberal Party will run in any Eden-Monaro by-election, all but denying NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro a clear path to federal parliament.
Local Liberals in the electorate – including senator and potential candidate Jim Molan – have been pushing back against reports the NSW Liberals may decide not to contest the seat if Labor’s Mike Kelly retires this week as expected.
Mr Barilaro has not ruled out running for Eden-Monaro for the Nationals, and some Liberals believed he was the best candidate to return the electorate to Coalition hands.
The Prime Minister on Wednesday said he expected his party and the junior Coalition partner to both contest the seat, setting up a three cornered contest with the ALP.
“The Liberal Party will contest the seat as I’m sure the National Party will contest the seat but that doesn’t change the history which would mean that it would be a country in a hundred year event for a government in those circumstances if they were to take a seat from the Opposition,” he said.
“That would be a rather extraordinary outcome but it’s one we will put our best foot forward for in this environment.”
Senator Molan and NSW transport minister Andrew Constance are both leading candidates for the Liberal nomination.
Eden-Monaro has traditionally gone to the party of government until Mr Kelly — who held it for Labor under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard’s prime ministership — bucked the trend and won it back for the ALP in the 2016 election.
Mr Kelly holds the electorate on a margin of 0.9 per cent, after a 2.1 per cent swing to the Coalition during last year’s federal election.
The Australian understands corporate consultant Leanne Atkinson is the frontrunner to replace Mr Kelly as the Labor candidate. She has run for the ALP in the state seat of Bega three times without success.
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