Mal Brough wins Fisher preselection

30 Jul 2012, 6:34 am   -   Source: AAP
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The Liberal National Party has chosen former Howard minister Mal Brough to contest Speaker Peter Slipper's seat of Fisher at the next election.

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The comeback of former Howard government minister Mal Brough is in motion after Queensland's Liberal National Party chose him as its candidate for a safe conservative seat.

Mr Brough on Sunday won the ballot for the seat of Fisher amid a political brouhaha about his part in the sexual harassment case involving the incumbent, former LNP member Peter Slipper.

Mr Slipper defected from the party to become parliamentary Speaker last year and stood aside in April after his former staffer James Ashby lodged the sexual harassment charges against him.

Mr Brough allegedly had extensive contact with Mr Ashby before he brought the case against Mr Slipper.

He was also accused of interfering with a local government election on the Sunshine Coast but has since been cleared by the Queensland's anti-corruption watchdog and police.

Mr Brough, who lost his seat of Longman in 2007, beat seven other contenders in Sunday's contest.

They included LNP official and strategist James McGrath, who enjoyed public backing from federal Liberals including Malcolm Turnbull, Jamie Briggs and Simon Birmingham.

The former minister refused to be drawn on the details of the Ashby case, which is before the court, but said it did not harm his preselection chances and he did not expect it to hinder his re-election.

"The public here are only too aware that what I did was help someone in need, no more no less," Mr Brough told reporters.

"I'm not interested in other candidates. I'm interested in what I can do and what the LNP can do and what (Opposition Leader) Tony Abbott can do.

"That's what matters to me."

LNP president Bruce McIver says Mr Brough was the clear winner.

"Mal will bring a wealth of experience," Mr McIver told reporters.

"He will also bring a wealth of local knowledge to the seat and we as a party are 100 per cent behind him in getting elected."

Mr Brough told reporters he worked hard to earn the respect of local Sunshine Coast members.

"And I intend to do exactly the same with the general population of Fisher," he said.

"Engaging with them, being there for them and making sure we'll take their woes and concerns to Canberra."

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Abbott declined to endorse any candidate outright.

"In the end it is up to the preselectors and I'm confident that whoever they choose will be a worthy candidate and a welcome addition to our parliamentary team in Canberra," he said.

Government frontbencher Craig Emerson said Mr Brough had admitted to being evasive about his involvement in the Ashby matter.

He challenged Mr Abbott, who said Mr Brough was "totally upfront about his involvement in the Ashby matter", to do the same.

"Tony Abbott must now explain what prior knowledge - specific or general - he had of his candidate's involvement in the Ashby matter," Dr Emerson said on Sunday in a statement to AAP.

Other nominees were Mr Slipper's former media adviser Richard Bruinsma, Andrew Wallace, Peta Simpson, Graeme Mickelberg, Daniel Purdie and Stephen Ainscough.

Mal Brough

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Your Comments

M Brough

oncewas - from bribie island, 10 months ago

Mr Brough was an arrogant man who cared little for his constituents the last time around, and he paid for it at election time. If he succeeds in gaining election, will he have changed? Doubt it. Still he has to get past the Slipper fiasco and his part in it. Perhaps we will have a different candidate at election time.

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