Local LNP unites after intense Groom by-election won by their candidate

It’s been a fractured two months for the Groom LNP branch, but they’ve appeared to have put the drama behind them.

Garth Hamilton’s victory at the Groom by-election on Saturday night signalled the end of a tumultuous two months for local LNP party members.

Just over two months after former LNP MP John McVeigh announced his resignation due to his wife’s ongoing health issues, Mr Hamilton claimed victory.

“It was a tough campaign, but I had great people around me,” Mr Hamilton said.

“I want to get involved in Inland Rail as quickly as I can. I want to get to grips with the issues.

“I’ll be throwing my weight behind continuing our economic recovery.

“I’ll then start talking to council very quickly about their plans on water security.”

( From left ) Claude, Red, Garth, Adeline and Louise Hamilton. Saturday. 28th Nov 2020

In the two months since Dr McVeigh resigned, the party went through an intense preselection process that split the moderates of the party, the conservatives and the Christian right, and held a heated debate on whether a Groom LNP MP should sit in the Liberal or National party room in Canberra.

Mr Hamilton will sit in the Liberal Party room, after that meeting tabled the decision for some point in the future, but The Chronicle understands that’s unlikely to be discussed anytime soon.

But any ruptures that were caused during that process seemed to have healed by Saturday, as figureheads of all sides of the LNP were seen working and volunteering for the campaign, as well as celebrating Mr Hamilton’s win.

“I think the best thing is the Groom Federal Division coming together and working hard together,” Mr Hamilton said.

“This team has campaigned very well, we work very well together. We have good experience doing that.

“I’m just so humbled to be a part of that and leading that group.”