A stoush has broken out within the Victorian National Party after Ararat councillor Jo Armstrong was placed ahead of Miners Rest’s Andrew Black on the Western Victoria Upper House ticket, despite Mr Black winning the popular vote.
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An extraordinary State Council meeting has been called by party members following the selection made ahead of the November 24 election.
While the State Council has the ability to overturn the branch selection, The Courier understands such a meeting has not been called in about 40 years. At least six members have to call for a meeting in order for the Special State Council to sit.
Under the Coalition agreement the Liberals fill positions one, two and four on the Western Victoria upper house ticket, while the Nationals are given positions three and five.
At the 2014 election, just two of the Coalition’s candidates won Upper House seats.
Victorian Nationals state director Matthew Harris declined to comment on the conflict, saying “we’re not going to comment on internal matters of the party”.
Fairfax Media was told Mr Black secured 15 delegates in the last round of Nationals pre-selection voting in Ballarat while Ms Armstrong secured nine delegates, with three for Glenelg Shire Councillor Anita Rank.
Tatyoon farmer Leila McDougall and Warrnambool City Councillor Michael Neoh also stood for pre-selection, but were eliminated in earlier voting.
The 27-year-old Australian Catholic University law teacher is out to become the first Nationals representative from Ballarat since Russell White, who held the seat of Ballarat North from 1945 until 1960.
The extraordinary meeting is not expected to take place until July 21, almost a month after the initial pre-selection announcement on June 23.
When contacted by The Courier on Monday evening, Mr Black again declined to make a comment due to the fact the ultimate decision was before the state council.
The Courier also contacted Ms Armstrong for comment.
