Madeleine Ogilvie accused of betrayal over her switch to the Liberal Party

A former Labor MP has been accused of betrayal after being endorsed to stand as a Liberal at the upcoming election, as a former minister lines up a political comeback. See the full list of Liberal candidates >>

• Ogilvie completes her political switch
• Winter faces tough battle to win preselection

FORMER Labor then independent MP Madeleine Ogilvie has become a Liberal candidate for Clark in the 2021 state election, in an act Labor leader Rebecca White has called a betrayal.

“I am a strong independent woman, a barrister and solicitor, and I make my own decisions,” Ms Ogilvie said as she and Adam Brooks announced they had been endorsed to stand for the Liberals at the May election.

“I was not given a great time in my last party (Labor). I came in as an independent last election and I have watched the events of the last week and thought about my future career.

“I have got to know Peter Gutwein and I like him.

“Tasmania needs stability and I want to contribute to a stable government.”

Madeleine Ogilvie is officially a Liberal candidate. Picture: Rob Burnett

Ms Ogilvie confirmed she was asked to put her hand up as a Liberal after the Premier advised Sue Hickey she would not be endorsed again.

“I didn’t approach the government. I had a range of conversations and am humbled and pleased it has got to this,” she said.

Ms White said thousands of people across Clark would be disappointed in Ms Ogilvie today.

“She has turned her back on the voters of Clark and I suggest many will turn their back on her,” Ms White said.

The Liberal candidates for the 2021 state election. Picture: Rob Burnett

Mr Brooks, a mining and racing minister in Will Hodgman’s government who resigned in 2018 after an email scandal, will stand in Braddon.

It is likely he will push new Braddon Liberal MP Felix Ellis out.

Premier Peter Gutwein and Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff at the announcement of the Liberal party candidates. Picture: Rob Burnett

Mr Brooks said he had remained in the party since his resignation and was the president of his local Liberal Party branch.

“We need a majority government and I will do everything I can to stop a Labor-Green disaster,” Mr Brooks said.

“I have overwhelming support from the community to stand again. People vote for me because of who I am.”

Adam Brooks is looking to make a political comeback. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Mr Brooks said the email affair – in which he denied deleting emails from his business email account because they could be politically damaging – was behind him.

“I’m about the future. I was cleared and it was found I did not breach the ministerial code of conduct,” he said.

He said it was ludicrous to infer he was only endorsed to stand again because of his major vote-pulling power.

Mr Brooks was the highest-polling candidate the last time he stood in Braddon.

Ms White said the Liberals were scraping the bottom of the barrel in bringing Mr Brooks back.

“The people of Braddon deserve better,” she said.

The Liberal candidates for the 2021 election:

Bass: Greag Kieser, Lara Alexander, Simon Wood, Sarah Courtney, Michael Ferguson, Peter Gutwein

Braddon: Stacey Sheehan, Adam Brooks, Lara Hendriks, Felix Ellis, Roger Jaensch, Jeremy Rockliff

Clark: Simon Behrakis, Will Coats, Harvey Lennon, Madeleine Ogilvie, Elise Archer

Franklin: Dean Young, Bec Enders, Dean Ewington, Jacquie Petrusma, Nic Street

Lyons: Susie Bower, Justin Derksen, Stephanie Cameron, Guy Barnett, Mark Shelton, John Tucker