Liberal Party Preselection Battles Intensify Amid One Nation Threat
Victorian Liberal Party preselection contests are heating up, with prominent conservative MPs facing challenges and a significant shift occurring on a key upper house ticket. These internal struggles are unfolding against a backdrop of increasing concern over the rising influence of One Nation, particularly after the party’s strong performance in South Australia.
Hermans Relegated on South-Eastern Metropolitan Ticket
Ann-Marie Hermans, a conservative Liberal Member of Parliament for the South-Eastern Metropolitan region, has been moved from the top spot on her party’s upper house ticket to second. This demotion follows tense preselection battles that have seen several MPs fighting to retain their positions. Phillip Pease, a former staffer to ex-MP Matthew Bach, has taken the lead position on the ticket. While Hermans lost the top spot, she successfully secured second place after 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. “We have an election to win and a state to save – and that’s exactly what we’ll do,” she stated.
At the 2022 state election, Hermans was the sole Liberal to secure a seat from the South Eastern Metropolitan ticket. Under those results, a second-place ranking would not have been sufficient for election. However, many within the Liberal party believe she remains well-positioned to retain her seat. They point to the fact that the party narrowly missed out on a second MP in the region by only a few hundred votes in the last election. Party strategists see a surge in support across Melbourne’s south-east as crucial for victory in the next election, and they are optimistic about Hermans’ prospects given this focus. Insiders suggest that Hermans exceeding expectations by securing the second spot is a testament to her resilience.
Heath Retains Top Spot Amid Venue Controversy
Meanwhile, conservative MP Renee Heath has successfully defended her position as the top candidate for the Eastern Victoria upper house ticket. She fended off a challenge from author Sue Smethurst. Heath had faced scrutiny leading up to the preselection vote due to a venue linked to her family, and partially owned by her, being used to host a One Nation branch meeting.
Sources close to the party indicated that Smethurst had raised concerns about the preselection process. These concerns reportedly stemmed from a delegate being declared ineligible at the last minute and other delegates failing to attend the vote. Supporters of Smethurst also expressed frustration over Senator James Paterson’s involvement in campaigning for Heath by contacting delegates.
Heath expressed her honour at being selected to represent the region and reaffirmed her commitment to being part of Opposition Leader Jess Wilson’s team, stating their focus is “entirely on changing the government in November.” Wilson was present at both Heath’s and Hermans’ preselection events and provided written endorsements for MPs who requested them.
Deeming and McArthur Face Upcoming Challenges
The current preselection battles are not isolated incidents. Conservative MPs Moira Deeming and Bev McArthur, who serves as the upper house leader, are also slated to face preselection challenges in the coming weeks.
Deeming, who was readmitted to the Liberal party room in late 2024 after a successful defamation case against former leader John Pesutto, is being challenged by Dinesh Gourisetty for the top position on the Western Metropolitan ticket. Current indications suggest Gourisetty is in a strong position to win this contest convincingly. This situation has fuelled speculation among Liberal Party members that Deeming could potentially defect to One Nation if she loses her preselection.
These intense internal party contests occur as the Liberal Party grapples with the fallout from the recent South Australian election. In that election, One Nation experienced a significant surge in support, which severely impacted the Liberal Party’s primary vote. The Victorian Liberal Party is undoubtedly watching these developments closely as they prepare for their own electoral battles.
