Federal Government
MCPHERSON: Liberal leadership hopeful defeated in preselection fight
Unless you read VEXNEWS, you might be surprised to learn that former Howard minister, SkyNews regular and leadership hopeful Peter Dutton failed to successfully execute his ‘chicken run’ from his marginal seat of Dickson to the Gold Coast blue ribbon seat of McPherson.
Patriots will recall VEXNEWS foreshadowed a strong showing for one of the two local women and revealed a very strong sense of outrage among local members about the prospect of their selection being overturned.
We understand the result was very close in the final round with Dutton beaten by local entrepreneur and party activist Karen Andrews by five or six votes.
The state party director of the LNP in Queensland was on Friday talking down the prospect of the local vote being overturned so it will be interesting to see whether Malcolm Turnbull is interested in throwing a lifeline to one of his most senior shadow ministers.
Dutton has publicly attributed on local radio the defeat to many local party members desire to replace the female incumbent Margaret May with another woman, a use of Joan Kirner logic that will perhaps surprise outsiders. Privately, we hear Dutton has told party members on the Coast that he’s adamantly opposed to the President’s committee intervening in the preselection and that he accepts the result of the members.
VEXNEWS investigators say that the high-level support Dutton received from former PM John Howard and Opposition Leader was very helpful to Dutton but that the Gold Coast Liberals have an independent streak and believe that Andrews is a very strong candidate who could serve as a Liberal cabinet minister given her commercial and extensive political experience.
Discussion
33 comments for “MCPHERSON: Liberal leadership hopeful defeated in preselection fight”
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It would be interesting to know more about the lady who was preselected. From what I hear she is quite talented, but it’s difficult to know whether preselectors made a mistake without knowing the details.
Ohhh! Devasting. Peter will just have to fight on in Dickson. I wonder how that electorate will feel now that he had a crack at abandoning them.
John Howard to his credit stuck with Bennelong despite the demographic and electorates tectonic plate gradually moving into the red zone over his career. I hate born to rule types like Dutton that think that once they are an MP they have the right to move seats to effectively suit their personal vested interest and desert the voters in the original seat that elected him in the first place. No MP is indispensable. Boo Hoo Hoo – Not!
What a disgrace! This should be thrown out and the process restarted.
Rumours of our disinterest are greatly exaggerated…
Minna was one of the least competent staffers ever. Thank God she went nowhere.
I hear she’s so desperate shell take an EO job in Karen’s office after next election. FAIL
Excellent result, after Ciobo and Astra we resolved ‘no more blow-ins’ not exactly setting the world on fire is he?
Malcolm Turnbull has been totally repudiated by this. The Libs are getting set for a long and agonizing era of opposition.
He’s Dead Jim!
Where will Dutton go now?
Dutton dumped Dickson.
The McPherson LNP Dumped Dutton.
Now Dutton has to move to Wright in the middle of no where. His wife wasn’t happy that Dutton dumped Dickson – I wonder if Dutton might get dumped by wife.
P.S. Dickson doesn’t want Dutton back – other wise Dutton will be dumped by Dickson to.
Dutton is now another wasted talent like Brough.
Karen might have had the numbers but let’s keep it real she’s not in Dutton’s league just because she blowed the Stuckeys.
The leader’s credibility was on the line and members just said get lost. Could things get any worse for Coalition?
Nelson gone. Costello out. Turnbull wounded, can’t even get a few GC members to play ball. Robb fatally damaged by admissions of mental state. Who does that leave? Sloppy Joe Hockey, Chrissy Pyne or Greg ‘Mike’ Hunt. Not one of them could appeal beyond the cities.
It might sound stupid but if conservatives want to win shift Barnaby Joyce to lower house and give him the job. He’d have Kevin Rude rattled very quickly.
Isn’t that hot chick with the blonde hair, stretched legs and fake tits running in Wright? The Nats have the numbers there for her so again Dutton would be stymied and humiliated.
Dutton wiped the floor with all of them in terms I’d the quality of his presentation. That obviously didn’t count for much with KA’s mates. Quality has been totally ignored.
Nice piece Walker
Dutton is a Dill!
S U C K E G G S !
Finally a victory for the reform process…..
Would you kindly let me know where my local Centrelink office is, I appear to be in a spot of bother with my current employment?
Good riddens to a party light weight. He knows as much about the economy and has all the intellect of an ant. I cannot believe that Turnbull considers this some great loss. Little wonder the party is flounering with judgement to the effect that someone like Dutton is worth keeping…shame Turnbull. Get some perspective and more heavy weights in your own office and beyond if you want any chance of winning. Compare Dutton’s credentials and might with those of someone like Kelly O’Dwyer, Johs Frydentberg, Greg Hunt, Russell Trood, Phillip Ruddock etc. It’s a no brainer that Dutton does not even begin to cut the mustard.
What hubris, to think he is deserving of a safe seat. If the party sees fit to try and get senior proven member to step aside for this piece of mediocrity, then it deserves to stay in opposition indefinitely. Dutton’s lack of policy prowess and knowledge in general, reflect what has gone wrong with the party — too many strongheaded skulls and not enough people with useful brains. Out with those who have a baseless sense of entitlement and in with those with useful substantive knowledge and experience.
The idea that two extremely competent senior MPs such as Bishop and Ruddock should consider stepping aside for Dutton is insanity!
When a party ceases to value experience, proven performance and great intellectual calibre, history and knowledge to promote shallow hurbis (Dutton)whose biggest talent is working the numbers to get on in the party, then it will surely regress and deserve a long holiday in opposition.
Out with the arrogant partiarchal swinging Ds and in with the hardworking members of substance, solid education and experience.
Dutton=dunce
Dutton just doesn’t seem to learn.
When he was a rather uninspiring police cuntstable in QLD he spent most of his time with his nose firmly planted up the local supers arse.
His workmates made their feelings about his brown nosing ways felt in that time honoured and oh so subtle way of the QLD Police Force by leaving a can of dog food on his desk.
Dutton needed some of the more senior officers to explain the significance of the can …. he left shortly after.
History repeats
The only one worried about this result is Slippery Pete
Another one going down (not me ..although I will if you ask nicely). Soon there will only be me for leader of the Liberal Party…. just imagine having all those extra staff…a veritable smorgasboard of young meat
Considering the information included in The Australian article, it seems there was a serious “anyone but Dutton” feeling at the preselection.
People up there know Peter better than anyone. They have first hand knowledge of his lack of capability for the position.
Why doesn’t Malcolm choose his battles more carefully. Let this Dutton of no consequence go and focus on getting and retaining real talent & the actual current issues.
The Australian was trying to help Dutton but ended up helping sinking him.
Vex had a much more sensible and well informed approach to McPherson preselection.
The real story not reported by anyone properly is Margaret may’s despicable role.
She conned Dutton and then fled overseas like Chris Skase to avoid the fallout. What a ho.
Maybe I could become a Janitor, anyone need their lavatory cleaned and polished?
you can polish my knob anytime Peter.
The shooters support for Labor at the next state election = 0. They’re pissed off because they have been betrayed.
The guy on the left is Wayne Black