Who will challenge Turnbull?
Malcolm Turnbull put to rest weeks of speculation about who would contest the seat of Wentworth at the upcoming federal election when he announced his change of heart last week.
“When I recently announced that I would not stand at the election, I said it was the most difficult decision I had ever made,” Mr Turnbull said.
“Since then I have been overwhelmed by the many local residents and members of the Liberal Party who have urged me personally and via hundreds of emails and letters to reconsider my decision and run again.”
Turnbull’s decision to remain has ended the intense speculation about who would run in his place. Recent media coverage threw up a comically eclectic list of Liberal potentials.
The line up included former Wallabies captain Nick Farr Jones, Howard government chief of staff Arthur Sinodinos and Kerryn Phelps, former head of the Australian Medical Association.
Now that Mr Turnbull has recommitted to the seat, focus is shifting to who will challenge the Liberals in Wentworth.
The Greens have had a candidate locked in since December: Matthew Robertson, a Darlinghurst resident who holds degrees in law and politics and works as a legal researcher for the Refugee Advice and Casework Service.
Mr Robertson identified the key issues he will target in the months leading up to the election.
“I am concerned about the extent of homelessness in the electorate and housing affordability, and will work to reduce the gap between wealthy and poor,” he said.
“Voting Greens in Wentworth is a vote for real action on climate change, environmental sustainability, social justice and the rights of those less advantaged.”
The Greens candidate welcomed Mr Turnbull’s return to politics but threw down the gauntlet on taking adequate action on climate change.
“At the weekend, Mr Turnbull indicated that his return to politics was motivated by the ‘cowardice and gutlessness’ of the Rudd Government in shelving the ETS policy,” Mr Robertson said.
“I challenge Mr Turnbull to support the Greens’ interim carbon tax solution, if he is at all serious about taking effective and immediate action to combat climate change.”
Labor has not yet announced who its candidate for Wentworth will be but a Labor insider revealed to The View that three potential candidates had expressed interest in nominating for pre-selection. Robin Margo, a barrister and current president of the Jewish Board of Deputies, Steven Lewis, practice group leader at Slater and Gordon law firm and Barry Nielsen, a Paddington veterinarian.
According to the Labor source, Mr Margo is being backed by the local left faction and more moderate right elements, Mr Lewis is being backed by NSW treasurer Eric Roozendaal and Mr Nielsen is non factional.
“If you were looking for a front runner at this stage you would probably pick Robin Margo,” the source said.
And it seems the pundits will have to wait a little longer before all the horses line up at the gates for this race.
“Head office is yet to open nominations for a pre-selection ballot for a Labor candidate for Wentworth,” a Labor source revealed. “It is likely it will happen in the next couple of weeks.”
Regardless of who runs for Labor, with Mr Turnbull in the mix it looks like the fight for Wentworth will be a battle the whole nation will be watching.
– By Liam Kinkead
