Forster and Phelps circle former PM’s home patch

Malcolm Turnbull’s promise to quit parliament triggers a scramble of contenders for Wentworth including Christine Forster and Kerryn Phelps.

Kerryn Phelps in Double Bay. Picture: Chris Pavlich.

Malcolm Turnbull’s promise to quit parliament — most likely within days — has triggered a frantic scramble of would-be candidates for his seat of Wentworth, one of the crown jewels in the Liberal Party’s political real estate.

Two wildcard candidates emerged yesterday and could set the scene for a rare head-to-head battle between two high-profile women: Christine Forster, the sister of former prime minister Tony Abbott, and Kerryn Phelps, a long-time health advocate and same-sex marriage campaigner.

Ms Forster last night confirmed she had decided to put her hat in the ring for Liberal preselection for Wentworth — up against frontrunner Dave Sharma, Australia’s former ambassador to Israel.

“I have decided today I will nominate because a lot of people inside the party are encouraging me to do so,” Ms Forster said.

The big “if” for Ms Forster is whether her brother’s role as serial wrecker could prove a bridge too far. But if Ms Forster succeeds she is likely to find herself pitted against Professor Phelps. The pair, she says, are good friends and both serve as councillors on the socially progressive City of Sydney council.

Wentworth voter Emma Carmody with her children Bart 6 and Fred 11. Picture: Chris Pavlich

Professor Phelps said last night she was seriously contemplating standing as an independent for Wentworth after being bombarded with calls and texts begging her to stand.

On paper, Professor Phelps has the credentials of a blue-ribbon candidate in one of the most affluent and safest Liberal seats in the country. A former federal president of the Australian Medical ­Association, Professor Phelps is also a general practitioner in the electorate’s wealthy suburb of Double Bay.

“I’ve had a general practice in the area for 20 years, just down the hill from Malcolm’s electoral ­office,” she said.

“My daughter Gabbi was head girl at (elite private school in the electorate) Ascham last year. And my wife Jackie taught at Ascham for many years.”

Professor Phelps said she had not seriously considered a career in federal politics before, but the level of public “anger and despair” over the leadership change had been an unexpected catalyst.

During The Australian’sphoto shoot with Professor Phelps, locals on Bay Street, the main drag of Double Bay, repeatedly approached her, urging her to run for the seat. “Walking down the street, going to the hairdresser, speaking to people at the local shops, I’m getting so many people telling me I should try and do something it’s forced me to contemplate it,’ she said.

“A lot of people are very upset. The Liberals are almost operating like two parties … they seem intent on tearing each other apart.”

Wentworth voters were surveyed by Liberal Party robo calls yesterday, asked to rate possible candidates, with Mr Sharma and Ms Forster the first two on the list.

But one voter in Paddington, former journalist Robin Bromby, said he was “startled” by some of the names, which read like a rollcall of the wounded from ancient Liberal Party battles.

“Names like Nick Greiner ­(former NSW Liberal premier) and especially Peter King who, of course, was savagely removed from his seat as the member for Wentworth by Malcolm Turnbull,” Mr Bromby said.

City of Sydney councillor Christine Forster. Picture: AAP

Veteran Labor campaigners said the ALP had “no chance” of overcoming the 17 per cent margin Mr Turnbull won in the seat at the last election. But given the level of voter fury, they believe the right independent candidate could muster enough “vengeance votes” to be a “real game-changer” and claim the seat.

“You have a huge gay vote and a huge Jewish vote and it’s mostly pro the republic. But while it’s socially progressive they don’t like paying tax and a Pentecostal Christian won’t play well,” one senior ALP campaigner said.

Wentworth voter Emma Carmody, who has lived in the electorate for 15 years, described last week’s leadership spill as a “self-serving waste”.

“But I wouldn’t support independent candidates because this isn’t a marginal seat — they would just end up giving their votes to ­another party,’’ Ms Carmody said.