Victorian Liberals in the blue ribbon seat of Kooyong are being urged by the branch chair to get behind preselected candidate Amelia Hamer as former treasurer Josh Frydenberg refuses to rule out a run at the seat should pre-selections re-open.
Sky News Australia has obtained leaked correspondence from Kooyong Federal Electorate Conference Chairman Phillip Healey sent in the wake of a proposed redistribution that would see Kooyong expanded into suburbs across the Yarra River and the two-time prime ministerial seat of Higgins abolished.
“In the meantime, it is important to focus on our mission in Kooyong and be mindful of the uncertainty faced by Katie Allen, our Candidate for Higgins, as well as members of the Higgins FEC,” Healey told members according to the email leaked to Sky News.
”I am looking forward to seeing all of you on the hustings over coming days, weeks, and months as we strive to elect Amelia, with the support of Kooyong residents, as the next Member for Kooyong.”
In the email, Mr Healey makes no reference to speculation that Mr Frydenberg could run for the seat if pre-selections reopen after choosing not to contest pre-selection earlier this year.
Party constitutional rules allow for pre-selections to re-open as long as there has been a “substantial” change to the boundaries by the Australian Electoral Commission.
On Friday, a draft proposal saw Kooyong’s borders stretch into the suburbs of Toorak, Armadale and Malvern – where the Liberals have performed strongly in the past.
“Fortunately, our candidate, Amelia, has a strong connection to these new suburbs. She has previously lived in this area, attended schools in Armadale and Toorak, and worked in Malvern,” Healey said.
The email also addresses the situation for pre-selected candidate in Higgins Katie Allen, who told Sky News on Friday she is urging locals to write to the AEC to object the proposed abolishment of the seat.
The chair of the Higgins FEC Jacqueline Blackwell has urged members in a similar email to join Ms Allen’s campaign to the Australian Electoral Commission.
“Your objections may wish to reference: the historical significance of the seat named after Justice Henry Higgins or that it has been the seat of two Liberal Prime Ministers: Harold Holt and John Gorton,” she said.
“the community implication of dividing the City of Stonnington, and well established community of interests (and) patterns of interaction that are now divided across the electorate, such as transport patterns, economic, sporting and cultural ties,” the letter from Jacqueline Blackwell reads.
Ms Allen may stake a claim on parts of Kooyong given the redistribution although Sky News understands she is more likely to consider her support in the seat of Chisholm.
“it is important to focus on our mission in Kooyong and be mindful of the uncertainty faced by Katie Allen, our Candidate for Higgins, as well as members of the Higgins FEC,” Healey told members.