Peter Debnam to leave politics

Peter Debnam, after almost 17 years in one of the state’s “safest” seats, Vaucluse, is about to retire. But “safe” seats carry the risk of rival candidates spoiling for the prize. Just look at Wentworth.

In February last year readers of one local paper were surprised to read a claim that Mr Debnam had “not asked a question without notice since November 2006” yet Hansard, the official record of Parliament, lists him making speeches and asking questions without notice totalling 539 times – the highest in the Assembly.

Claims about his leadership of his party prior to the election allege an absence of policies, yet on his website Mr Debnam lists an impressive array of 67 election policies, even after combining related matters. With his party at the last state election undergoing ructions from its factions, such a number indicates solid work by Mr Debnam and loyal MPs.

But Mr Debnam’s election effort as opposition leader is remembered more for his budgie smuggler speedos than his policies. He swims daily so was an easy target for the media and to the surprise of many, his party “lost the unloseable election”.

Mr Debnam remains a diligent local MP, faithfully attending local functions, often with his wife Deborah. It surprised many in his party when he opposed the privatisation of electricity – even leading to jibes that he was on a “unity ticket” with his Labor neighbour, Coogee MP Paul Pearce. But his bill-paying electors cheered and many of his own side followed his lead.

Recently, Mr Debnam expressed his general disappointment with Parliament, “marking time with petty politicking instead of actually undertaking substantial discussion of [the] big issues”.

News of his impending retirement has brought out an impressive field of candidates for pre-selection. They include well-known restaurateur, Peter Doyle, Supreme Court solicitor and Liberal Party office-bearer Gabrielle Upton, former Turnbull staffer Mary-Lou Jarvis and Woollahra deputy mayor Peter Cavanagh.

But whoever wins will have big shoes to fill.

– BY PETER McCALLUM