Simon Kennedy wins Liberal preselection in former prime minister Scott Morrison’s Cook
Simon Kennedy has won Liberal preselection for Scott Morrison’s Sydney seat, paving the way for the former McKinsey partner to enter parliament.
Right-backed Simon Kennedy has decisively won the Liberal preselection in former prime minister Scott Morrison’s seat of Cook, paving the way for the former McKinsey partner and Bennelong candidate to enter parliament.
Winning on the first round of voting with 156 votes from a possible 298 — 149 was needed to win outright in the first round — Mr Kennedy saw off local mayor Carmelo Pesce in a significant win for the party’s right faction.
Mr Pesce, the popular and long-serving Sutherland Shire mayor, had long been the presumptive favourite well before Mr Morrison announced his retirement but only garnered 90 votes to Mr Kennedy’s 156.
Mr Kennedy, often cited by cross-factional Liberal sources as a future minister, will now be the Liberal candidate in a likely April by-election.
Bar a major upset, he should comfortably retain the “true blue” Liberal seat.
It is understood, given the comfortable Liberal majority, that Labor are unlikely to run a candidate in the upcoming poll.
Mr Kennedy – who does not live in the electorate – had brought together endorsements from Liberal conservatives including former prime minister Tony Abbott, Angus Taylor and former premier Dominic Perrottet, as well as some moderates.
Gwen Cherne, a war widow who had been endorsed by former prime minister John Howard, came third with 35 votes, while Ben Britton received 13.
Party sources had told The Australian in the days leading up to Monday night’s vote that Mr Kennedy was looking increasingly likely to clinch preselection over Mr Pesce, although there was slight surprise among party sources at the decisive nature of his win.
Mr Kennedy had been the party’s Bennelong candidate in the 2022 federal election, although lost to Labor’s Jerome Laxale.
It is understood Mr Morrison, who had not endorsed a candidate, surprisingly showed face at the count towards the end of the night.
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