Liberal veteran Eric Abetz has big win in rank and file vote for his run in Franklin

The Liberal Party’s rank and file members in Franklin and Clark have voted on who they want to run at the next state election. Find out who they put their money on.

Eric Abetz at Blackman's Bay. Former Liberal Senator Eric Abetz will run on the Liberal party ticket in the seat of Franklin at the next state election. Picture: Chris Kidd

Liberal stalwart Eric Abetz has had a big win from the party’s rank-and-file who have backed him as their number one choice to run in Franklin at the next state election.

It is believed Mr Abetz, 66, received 54 votes in a ballot of four candidates, including two sitting MPs with the other three receiving just 11 votes between them.

Liberal Party members in the seats of Franklin and Clark met at the Hellenic Hall in North Hobart on Thursday night to vote on candidates who had nominated for pre-selection.

The party’s 17-member state executive will meet on Sunday to ratify the members’ selections for endorsement.

Mr Abetz, the veteran and conservative senator, was relegated to the virtually unwinnable third spot on the Liberal Senate ticket and after 28 years lost his seat at the 2022 election.

A leader of the government in the Senate he was also a senior minister in both the Howard and Abbott governments.

One party member told the Mercury on Friday: “Eric blitzed it.”

Kingborough councillor was behind Eric Abetz in the vote by Liberal party members.

In the voting by 65 party members, Mr Abetz finished ahead of Kingborough councillor Aldo Antolli, followed by sitting MP Dean Young and government minister Nic Street.

Mr Antolli stood unsuccessfully for the seat of Huon in the Legislative Council in the 2022 elections receiving 23 per cent of the vote in a field of five candidates.

Some party members were surprised at the strength of Mr Abetz’s support while others welcomed his likely return to the political fray.

Mr Abetz declined to comment on the vote.

Former government Minister Jacquie Petrusma, who quit parliament in July 2022 and now works an advisor in the Premier’s office has been rumoured to run again. She was not available for comment.

Madeleine Ogilvie MP at the Peacock Centre. Picture: Chris Kidd

In Clark, members endorsed just the two sitting members, minister Madeleine Ogilvie and Simon Behrakis who was elected late last year after Attorney-General Elise Archer quit parliament.

Hobart City Councillor Louise Elliot, who has recently joined the party, is also understood to be considering running in Clark.

Liberal Party state director Peter Coulson also declined to comment on the pre-selection process.

Some in the party fear it is having trouble attracting candidates but others say there are some “big names” who will be announced closer to when the election is called.

The next state election is due in 2025 but with the government in minority there has been speculation Premier Jeremy Rockliff may call the election this year.