Federal Government

WRONG: Sydney Morning Herald’s creative fiction on Ruddock revealed

This morning’s Sydney Morning Herald breathlessly speculated that Phil Ruddock would be challenged in his safe seat of Berowra. Crucial to any plot would local state MP Greg Smith.

They claimed:

Liberal sources have told the Herald that a challenge is likely to be mounted with the backing of the right-wing state MP and shadow attorney-general Greg Smith, whose seat of Epping is in Mr Ruddock’s north-west federal electorate of Berowra.

However that isn’t the case. The state MP has expressly denied the story and the supposed candidate Noel “Real” McCoy isn’t a candidate either.

Member for Epping, Shadow Attorney General and Shadow Minister for Justice, Greg Smith SC, today said the following on the seat of Berowra and the Hon. Phillip Ruddock MP:

“Phillip Ruddock has been a highly competent local member and advocate for the Liberal Party in Parliament for over 35 years, serving with distinction as Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and Attorney General in The Howard Government.

“Mr Ruddock’s declaration that he will contest the next election as the Member for Berowra has gained the full support of the Berowra Conference of the Liberal Party and wide support throughout the local community.

“I am fully supportive of Mr Ruddock contesting the next federal election and will do my upmost to support his campaign.

“Since my election to Parliament Phillip Ruddock has been a great mentor and friend, offering me wise assistance as a local member and as Shadow Attorney General.

“Reports in some media outlets have indicated that I am backing a challenge against Mr Ruddock – this is simply untrue.

“I look forward to working with Mr Ruddock to see the election of Liberal Governments in both the State and Federal Parliaments.”

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