National Party to run in Monash in race to replace Russell Broadbent

Veteran MP Russell Broadbent’s preselection loss has opened the door to a National Party contender.

Russell Broadbent’s Liberal preselection loss has opened the door to a National Party challenger in Monash at the next federal election.

National Party state director Matt Harris confirmed the Nats would seek to run a candidate in the electorate, held by Mr Broadbent non-consecutively for the past three decades.

Mr Broadbent was ditched by Liberal Party members on Sunday when they opted to replace the 72-year-old MP with corporate executive Mary Aldred as the Monash Liberal candidate.

Mary Aldred has previously served as chief executive of the Franchise Council of Australia.

Ms Aldred received 161 out of 193 first-round votes at the Warragul ballot while Mr Broadbent and South Gippsland mayor Nathan Hersey received 16 votes each.

Under the Victorian Coalition agreement, the National Party is permitted to stand a candidate in a seat when the incumbent Liberal MP retires, or in Mr Broadbent’s case, is not re-endorsed.

A call for preselection candidates is likely in the coming months with a local ballot in the new year to be held in the electorate, which covers Leongatha, Wonthaggi, Moe and Warragul.

Federal Liberal MP Russell Broadbent. Picture: Mick Tsikas

The federal Monash electorate overlaps with two state constituencies held by the National Party, South Gippsland and Morwell, as well as Labor-held Bass and Liberal-held Narracan.

Mr Broadbent was first elected to federal parliament as Liberal MP for the now-defunct Corinella constituency in 1990.

He is one of the longest-serving current members of parliament, having served from 1990 to 1993, 1996 to 1998, and since 2004.

His office was contacted by The Weekly Times for comment.