While Liberal MP Simon Ramsay’s drink-driving charge has cast doubt over his future as a Liberal Member for Western Victoria, a stoush has erupted within the Nationals over its candidates for the Upper House seat.
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A state council meeting of the Victorian Nationals on the weekend rejected a bid by 27-year-old Ballarat law lecturer Andrew Black to overturn the Nationals’ decision to place him fifth on the Coalition ticket for the seat.
Mr Black had gained the most votes in a Nationals pre-selection last month which would normally assure him of third spot on the Coalition ticket for the seat.
However, the Nationals state council reaffirmed its decision to place Ararat councillor Jo Armstrong in third spot, and Mr Black in what many consider the unwinnable fifth spot.
Under the Nationals agreement with the Liberals, the Liberals get first, second and fourth spots on the Coalition ticket for the seat and the Nationals third and fifth spot.
Media reports have suggested Nationals state leader Peter Walsh and other senior Nationals pushed for Ms Armstrong to be placed at number three, and Mr Black and his young Nationals supporters disputed the decision.
Nationals preselection results are rarely contested, with the weekend’s extraordinary state council meeting the first to be held in some years.
Warrnambool councillor Michael Neoh and Glenelg mayor Anita Rank also contested the Nationals preselection for Western Victoria last month but were unsuccessful.
The Nationals currently do not hold any of the five Upper House positions for Western Victoria with the Liberals holding two, Labor two and Vote 1 Local Jobs MP James Purcell the fifth MP.
Meanwhile Simon Ramsay’s future as an MP is in doubt, with opposition leader Matthew Guy telling him to consider his future after he was caught driving with an alcohol reading of 0.19 on the weekend.
Mr Ramsay had gained Liberal pre-selection last year for first spot on the Coalition ticket for Western Victoria last year but that position will become open if he decides not to contest the November election.
Ballarat-based Liberal MP Joshua Morris is in second spot. Both were pre-selected unopposed last year.
If Mr Ramsay decides not to stand in November, the Liberals will hold another pre-selection for the spots.
Regional Liberal administrative committee members have declined to comment on who might contest pre-selection if Mr Ramsay decides not to seek re-election, saying that was an internal Liberal Party matter.