That would,you’d think,entitle them both to the top two winnable spots on the ticket. But factional skulduggery leaves nothing for certain. Party sources suggest Hughes,a conservative best known for her outspoken defence of vaping,is likely to get the top spot.
But Bragg,a leading moderate,could face a challenge for number two from conservative Lowy Institute wonkJess Collins. Bragg’s outspoken support for an Indigenous Voice to parliament,despite Dutton’s determination to crush the referendum,has led to some branch members viewing him as a bit too progressive. So much for the broad church!
Collins,meanwhile,has managed to garner support from some moderates,particularly those keen for better female representation among the party’s parliamentary ranks. After some recent preselection results,that might gather even more momentum.
The fourth name in the mix,one-time Warringah aspirantLincoln Parker,won’t be troubling the scorers,we reckon.
CHURN NOTICE
Parliament House can be a thankless place to work. CBD doesn’t begrudge ministerial staffers for eventually deciding that the private sector offers more money,less work,and you don’t have to live out of a suitcase in Canberra for half the year.
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But as we roll into the business end of the current parliamentary term,it’s worth keeping note of some of the higher attrition rates in the ministerial wing. Word around the Big House is that Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil’s office had a particularly notable churn rate,with nearly all the 13 staff who started in her office when she was sworn in as a minister after the last election departing.
A source close to the minister denied that all but one of O’Neil’s original complement of staff had left,suggesting to CBD that her office had a turnover pretty consistent with the rest of the ministerial wing. Perhaps we just noticed given the particular scrutiny on O’Neil’s boats and borders portfolio of late,plus the high-profile departures of spinnerJason Koutsoukis(off to work forThe Saturday Paper) and,last year,chief of staffAndrew Downes,who got a job at arms manufacturer Thales. A spokesperson for O’Neil gave CBD the standard line about not commenting on internal staffing matters,which we’re used to by now.
CBD also hears there’s been a bit of turnover at the offices of Science MinisterEd Husicand Assistant TreasurerStephen Jonesof late. Last year,Husic’s press secretaryMarcus Strom,formerly a scribe for this masthead,left in a huff over the AUKUS pact. Just last week,Jones was out advertising for three staffers,from a total allocation of seven,just a month out from the federal budget. What a time to come on board.
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