Tony Abbott supports Warren Mundine to run for Liberals in Gilmore

Tony Abbott says former ALP president Warren Mundine “will make a really fine MP” amid an internal stoush over his candidacy.

Warren Mundine has been parachuted into the marginal seat of Gilmore. Picture: James Croucher

Tony Abbott has thrown his support behind Warren Mundine to run for the Liberal Party in the seat of Gilmore, declaring he “will make a really fine MP” amid an internal stoush over his candidacy.

The former prime minister, who appointed Mr Mundine as chair of his indigenous advisory council, said Australia needed more people like the Sydney-based Aboriginal leader in public life.

“Warren Mundine is an outstanding individual and will make a really fine MP,” Mr Abbott told The Australian.

Mr Abbott and Mr Mundine have clashed in the past, including over the then PM’s contentious comments in 2015 that indigenous Australians were making “lifestyle choices” to live in remote communities.

Former NSW MP may stand

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says former NSW MP Katrina Hodgkinson is a “fierce fighter for farmers” as the Nationals consider running against Liberal candidate Warren Mundine.

The Nationals leader said Ms Hodgkinson could be the Nationals’ candidate for the rural NSW seat if she “put her hand up”.

“She has got an outstanding record in agriculture and other things in the state parliament. She represents rural and regional Australia, she is a fierce fighter for more infrastructure, she is a fierce fighter for farmers, she is somebody who understands what it takes in a three cornered contest,” Mr McCormack said.

Mr McCormack said the Liberals and Nationals work well together when “campaigning alongside one another”.

“While we have got a similar message we have also got different messages,” he said.

“The fact is the Nationals stand for rural and regional Australia, I appreciate the Liberal Party does as well, but the Nationals’ whole and sole focus is on rural and regional Australia.

“So a seat like Gilmore for the Nationals is a very viable option.”

Nats consider running in Gilmore

The move could take further votes away from Scott Morrison’s hand-picked candidate Warren Mundine.

NSW Nationals state director Ross Cadell said the party was considering running.

“The NSW Nationals do not react to the actions of other organisations including the Liberal Party. However, we always make decisions based on the best interests of regional NSW and our party members,” Mr Cadell said in a statement.

“As such, we are continuing to consider whether to contest the Division of Gilmore and are listening to locals and various other stakeholders in coming to a decision over the next few weeks.”

Mundine ‘played’ by the Libs

Earlier, the dumped Liberal candidate for the seat, Grant Schultz, said he feels “quite sorry” for Mr Mundine, arguing the former ALP president would come undone by the wrath of voters and was “played” by the NSW Liberal Party.

Mr Schultz, the son of former Liberal MP Alby Schultz, said Mr Morrison was ignoring the needs of country people by parachuting the Sydney-based Mr Mundine as the Liberal candidate for the NSW regional electorate.

Grant Schultz has quit the Liberal Party after being dumped for the seat of Gilmore.

Mr Schultz said he would run as an independent to ensure his community had a voice.

“It is very unfortunate for Warren Mundine. I don’t know him personally, he seems like a great bloke, he is passionate, he is driven,” Mr Schultz told 2GB radio.

“In this circumstance it has done him no good whatsoever. In fact I feel quite sorry for him. I feel he has been played if nothing else.”

Mr Schultz said he had an “enormous task” to win the seat given the swing towards Labor nationally.

“I made the decision I did yesterday based not on personal interest, in fact far from it, but on the decision to represent my community,” Mr Schultz said.

“I think there is absolutely no denying that even prior to this happening I had an enormous task ahead of me.

“Clearly that task has become somewhat more complex, whether it has become harder time will tell.

“The response I’m getting from people in the Gilmore electorate has been very positive. In fact many of them are former Liberal voters and even Labor voters coming to me saying ‘we are sick of the major parties, we are over the infighting, we want someone to step forward, we want someone to represent us’.”