Bernardi selects his Bennelong by-election candidate

Cory Bernardi has chosen 25-year-old Maronite Catholic man Joram Richa to run for the Australian Conservatives in the upcomng by-election.

Australian Conservatives candidate Joram Richa, right, with brother Chechade Richa. Picture: Supplied.

Cory Bernardi has chosen 25-year-old Maronite Catholic man Joram Richa to run for the Australian Conservatives in the by-election for the NSW seat of Bennelong.

The Australian understands Mr Bernardi will announce Mr Richa as his candidate tomorrow.

The Australian Conservatives have pledged to provide a voice for Australians who voted No in the same-sex marriage postal survey.

In Bennelong, located in Sydney’s northwest, a bare majority of 50.2 per cent of constituents were No voters.

Australian Conservatives leader Senator Cory Bernardi. Picture: AAP.

Liberal candidate John Alexander, whose resignation over dual citizenship prompted the by-election, and Labor candidate and former NSW premier Kristina Keneally, are both supporters of same-sex marriage.

Mr Richa’s brother, Chechade Richa, runs faith-based online media company Verum Media, which campaigned vehemently for the No vote in the same-sex marriage postal survey.

As an intern at the National Student Leadership Forum in 2012, Mr Richa wrote of his strong Christian faith.

“Personally, I am passionate about the role of the Christian faith in society and its ability to enhance our understanding of values and form a basis for ethical decisions,” he wrote.

“In times of pluralism and uncertainty, our generation yearns for a moral compass and guide grounded in ideas of love, compassion, strength, vitality and forgiveness.”

Mr Richa attended local exclusive boys’ school St Joseph’s College in Hunter’s Hill, winning HSC distinguished mentions for six subjects when he graduated in 2009.

As The Australian revealed yesterday, the Australian Conservatives and Fred Nile’s Christian Democratic Party have not ruled out “open” preference tickets in Bennelong, while Labor is working to do a preference deal with the Greens, boosting Ms Keneally’s chances of getting the 9.5 per cent swing required to unseat Mr Alexander and put Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership and House of Representatives majority in danger.

Senator Bernardi declined to comment on the Bennelong contest ahead of tomorrow’s announcement.