Georgina Downer gets nod to vie for her father’s old seat of Mayo

Georgina Downer is a ‘certain starter’ for preselection in the one-time blue ribbon Adelaide Hills seat of Mayo.

Georgina Downer.

Georgina Downer, daughter of former federal Liberal leader Alexander Downer, is a “certain starter” for preselection in the one-time blue ribbon Adelaide Hills seat of Mayo.

This comes as South Australian Liberal Party president John Olsen yesterday said he had “exploratory discussions” with Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie, a member of Nick Xenophon’s party, about her rejoining the Liberal Party. “I was asked by Canberra to have these discussions with Rebekha, which I did,” Mr Olsen said.

A senior Liberal said Mr Downer told party figures at a social event on the weekend that his daughter was a definite starter for the Mayo preselection, either at a by-election if Ms Sharkie was referred to the High Court over her citizenship or at the next general election.

Ms Downer, a political consultant in Melbourne, has long been touted as a Liberal candidate in the seat held by her father, the former foreign minister and outgoing high commissioner in London, from 1984 to 2008.

The declaration by Mr Downer was viewed as a message to other potential contenders, including Ms Sharkie, not to bother seeking preselection.

Senior South Australian federal MP Christopher Pyne yesterday saidhe would endorse Ms Downer’s preselection.

“If Georgina Downer chooses to stand for preselection, she would attract widespread support and would be an excellent member for Mayo,” Mr Pyne said.

It is understood Ms Sharkie is weighing up her options as she awaits the outcome of today’s High Court ruling on whether ACT Labor senator Katy Gallagher took “reasonable steps” to renounce her British citizenship ahead of the 2016 election.

A finding against Senator Gallagher would be bad news for Ms Sharkie, whose renunciation of her British citizenship has been under a similar cloud.

Senior Liberal sources said des­pite some media reports, Mr Pyne was not ­directly involved in any talks with Ms Sharkie about her rejoining the Liberal Party to shore up the Coalition government’s numbers in the lower house.

Both Malcolm Turnbull and Mr Pyne were aware of the discussions but senior party sources stress they did not initiate ­anything.

“Everybody was aware of the Sharkie talks,” a party source said. “State executive was informed of it, as is the normal process for these things. The Sharkie move will probably never happen, but an ­approach was made.”

Ms Sharkie, before entering parliament, was a long-time staffer for former Liberal leader Isobel Redmond and state member for Adelaide Rachel Sanderson.

“She’s definitely a Liberal,” one source said.

It is understood Mr Olsen held talks with Ms Sharkie about a fortnight after the March 17 South Australian election, which saw the demise of Nick Xenophon’s party as a political force.

Sources said Mr Olsen acted on the advice of Canberra, who had told him that Ms Sharkie had reached out to the Liberal Party.

One of her staff members had spoken to an unnamed CEO, who passed on the information to Mr Pyne.

“She was reaching out to say — post-state election — that she was interested in rejoining the Liberal Party,” a senior party source said.

“John Olsen was then asked to have a discussion with Ms Sharkie, which he did.

“She was interested in joining but had a range of conditions — basically wanting guaranteed preselection — and Olsen told her the party could not deliver. She had to be treated like every other member who may seek preselection.”

Ms Sharkie and Ms Downer did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.

Mayo’s Federal Electoral Conference president, Lyn Nitschke, said branch members wanted a “fair” preselection process in line with the Liberal Party’s ­constitution.

“Why should anybody just go in to government, or a (company) board — doesn’t matter what it is — without going through the correct channels,” she said.