Tasmanian Liberal Senate preselection: Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley not on ticket

The Liberal Party has decided its Senate line-up for the next election, with a notable omission – and one surprise candidate.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, NewsWire Photos. OCTOBER 27, 2023: Senator Richard Colbeck during the Senate Finance and Public Adminstration Legislation Committee, Senate Estimates at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley has failed to get a spot on the Liberal Senate ticket, with the party endorsing two sitting senators to contest the next election.

A team of 67 preselectors met at Campbell Town on Saturday and decided conservative Senator Claire Chandler would be number one on the party’s ticket with moderate Senator Richard Colbeck in number two spot.

Relative unknown, Jacki Martin, who works for Senator Wendy Askew in Launceston, was given the number three position.

It is a bitter blow for Mr Blomeley who this year narrowly missed out on being elected party president.

Party president, Michael McKenna, described the three candidates as “a strong team that will be tireless champions for the Tasmanian community”.

Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley. Picture: Chris Kidd

“While Labor is hopelessly divided and increasingly out of touch, our team will give Tasmanians the voice they deserve,” he said.

“Our team was selected by our grassroots members, Labor’s Senate candidates will be selected by the faceless factional men in Canberra.

“Our team will provide Tasmanians with a clear choice at the next election.”

Party sources had predicted Senator Chandler, who has campaigned to ban transgender people from women’s sport, would take the number one spot.

She is assistant foreign affairs spokesperson.

Senator Colbeck, a former tourism, sport and aged care minister – who was relegated to an unwinnable fifth Senate position in 2016 – represents the state’s northwest.

He lost his seat but remarkably returned in 2018 after former Senate president Stephen Parry, was forced to resign over his dual citizenship.