Warren Mundine loses Liberal preselection for Bradfield to Gisele Kapterian

Former premier Gladys Berejiklian’s pick has won Liberal preselection for Bradfield, as the party steels itself for a fight to keep the blue-ribbon federal seat out of the hands of the Teals.

Indigenous leader and anti-Voice campaigner Warren Mundine has vowed to get behind the Liberal Party’s candidate in Bradfield despite losing a preselection vote on Saturday.

Mr Mundine, who had the backing of party heavyweights, including former prime minister Tony Abbott and Opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, lost in the first round of voting to tech executive Gisele Kapterian — 171 votes to 207.

Mr Mundine congratulated Ms Kapterian on her selection, declaring he would stand alongside her to retain the seat and help Opposition Leader Peter Dutton win.

“Gisele is a great candidate, I congratulate her. She’s a first class candidate and I’m 100 per cent behind her,” he said.

“I’m going to be at the polling booths and standing on the street corners with Giselle, because I need her to be elected. We need to win Bradfield and retain it within the Liberal Party family.”

After winning preselection, Gisele Kapterian said her focus would be on getting the economy back on track and allowing people to have choices in their lives. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Ms Kapterian won after receiving public support from the likes of former premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley.

Ms Kapterian said she was committed to winning back Liberal voters and people who had turned away from the major parties, particularly conservatives who may have considered her too left-leaning for the job.

Warren Mundine at the Liberal Preselection for Bradfield on Saturday. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“I would say (to those voters) I’m a Liberal, and my proven track record shows exactly that. I will campaign on my Australian Liberal values, which speak to reducing government overreach into the economy and people’s lives,” she said.

“It’s about getting the economy back on track, and allowing people to have choices again, that’s what the Liberal Party is all about.”

Ms Kapterian was backed by the party’s left, but received votes from some members of the conservatives.

With a margin of about 2.5 per cent, Bradfield – covering North Sydney and parts of the leafy north shore – is a serious target for the Teal movement.

Teal candidate Nicolette Boele secured 20 per cent of the primary vote at the last election.

Liberal sources said time constraints prevented Mr Mundine from winning over more preselectors, noting that if he had more time the conservative-backed candidate may have succeeded over Ms Kapterian, who had been backed by the moderates.

Incumbent MP Paul Fletcher announced last month that he would retire from politics at the election.

Perennial Liberal preselection candidate Michael Feneley also ran but was never expected to gain much support.

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Originally published as Warren Mundine loses Liberal preselection for Bradfield to Gisele Kapterian