Liberal Party Gears Up for Preselection Battles Amidst Rising One Nation Threat
The Liberal Party in Victoria is navigating a series of intense preselection contests, a crucial period of internal party politics that coincides with a significant and growing threat from the One Nation party. These battles are shaping the party’s candidate lists for upcoming elections, with notable shifts occurring on key tickets.
Among the most significant developments is the repositioning of conservative Liberal MP Ann-Marie Hermans. She has been moved to the second spot on the state Liberals’ upper house ticket for the South-Eastern Metropolitan region. This change comes after a tense preselection process, with Phillip Pease, a former staffer to moderate ex-MP Matthew Bach, securing the top position. While Hermans lost the premier spot, she successfully retained second place on the ballot by fending off a challenge from Manju Hanumantharayappa.
Hermans, who has previously courted controversy, including a comparison of former Premier Daniel Andrews to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, expressed her commitment to winning the upcoming election and “saving the state.” She thanked Opposition Leader Jess Wilson for her “unwavering support” and acknowledged the delegates who backed her. Despite being relegated from the top spot, many within the Liberal Party believe Hermans remains well-positioned to win her seat. This optimism is based on the party’s close call in the 2022 election, where they narrowly missed securing a second MP in the South-Eastern Metropolitan region, falling just a few hundred votes short. Strategists are banking on a projected surge in support in Melbourne’s south-east, which they deem essential for electoral success. Insiders have noted that Hermans’ ability to secure the second spot defied the expectations of some critics.
The preselection drama extends to other conservative MPs. Moira Deeming and Bev McArthur, both outspoken Liberal MPs, are preparing to defend their positions against incoming challenges. Meanwhile, fellow conservative Renee Heath successfully navigated a move to unseat her during a preselection vote held on Saturday.
On Saturday, Renee Heath, representing the Eastern Victoria region, successfully retained the top spot on the Liberal ticket by fending off a challenge from author Sue Smethurst. Heath had previously faced scrutiny when it was revealed that a venue linked to her family, and partially owned by her, had been used to host a One Nation branch meeting. Sources within the party indicated that Smethurst had raised concerns regarding the voting process, citing the late disqualification of a delegate and the absence of others. Supporters of Smethurst also expressed frustration over Senator James Paterson’s involvement in contacting delegates on Heath’s behalf. Heath, in response, stated her honour at being selected to represent the region and her commitment to being part of Wilson’s team, “entirely focused on changing the government in November.” Opposition Leader Jess Wilson attended both Heath and Hermans’ preselection meetings and provided written endorsements for MPs who requested them.
The challenges facing Deeming and McArthur are also significant. McArthur, who holds the position of upper house leader, will also face preselection scrutiny in the coming weeks. Moira Deeming, who was readmitted to the Liberal party room in late 2024 after a successful defamation case against former leader John Pesutto, is facing a challenge from Dinesh Gourisetty for the top position on the Western Metropolitan ticket. Reports from multiple Liberal sources suggest that Gourisetty is currently in a strong position to win this contest convincingly. This situation has fuelled speculation within Liberal circles that Deeming might be among the first high-profile figures to defect to One Nation if she loses her preselection bid.
These internal party contests are taking place against the backdrop of significant political shifts, particularly the performance of One Nation in the recent South Australian election. There, the party made substantial inroads, significantly impacting the Liberal primary vote. This trend has heightened concerns within the Victorian Liberal Party about the potential for a similar surge to impact their own electoral prospects. The party is now focused on solidifying its candidate lines and rallying support in key electorates as it prepares for the upcoming electoral challenges.
