Garrett told Anderson to get into politics

9 Aug 2012, 4:46 pm   -   Source: AAP
Former rock singer Angry Anderson (pic) says MP Peter Garrett encouraged him to enter politics. (AAP)

Former rock singer Angry Anderson (pic) says MP Peter Garrett encouraged him to enter politics. (AAP)

Former Rose Tattoo singer Angry Anderson, who is seeking Nationals preselection for a federal seat, says Peter Garrett encouraged him to enter politics.

Former Rose Tattoo frontman Angry Anderson says fellow rock star turned Labor MP Peter Garrett encouraged him to run for federal parliament.

Mr Anderson is expected to hear from senior Nationals figures next week on whether he could be endorsed to run in the NSW seat of Gilmore.

Sitting Liberal MP Joanna Gash is retiring, and the Nationals' coalition partner has endorsed local councillor Ann Sudmalis for the seat.

Under a longstanding rule the two parties can both field candidates in a seat where an MP is retiring.

Mr Anderson said he had heard from "high-ranking Nationals" that a proposition could be put to him next week.

He said Mr Garrett, the former Midnight Oil frontman who is now federal minister for school education, had previously encouraged him into politics.

"We used to have lots of round-the-coffee-table discussions in the old days, and I said, 'No, I'm not (interested)'," Mr Anderson told Sky News on Thursday.

"I said, 'You'll be in there shakin' and makin' and breakin', and I will be the bloke on the outside chucking the stones on the roof to get attention'.

"I never saw myself (as a politician) but the more I thought about it I thought, well, he's right; the best way to change things is to get in and get amongst it."

High-profile Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce could join Mr Anderson in fighting for a lower house seat, with Queensland's Liberal National Party deciding to throw open the seat of Maranoa to preselection in September.

The seat, which is three times the size of Victoria, has been held by Bruce Scott since 1990.

Under rules set when the LNP was formed in 2008, all electorates held by Liberal or National MPs were "grandfathered" until the state and federal elections were over.

Now that the grandfathering period is over, Maranoa is up for grabs.

Senator Joyce has been talking to local members in Maranoa but has yet to formally declare his hand.

Mr Scott, who has held the seat since 1990, told AAP he would not give a running commentary on the preselection.

"I'm fit and healthy and I enjoy doing the job I was elected for at the last federal election," Mr Scott said.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday that both Senator Joyce and Mr Scott were skilled politicians.

"Bruce has been a terrific member for Maranoa, Barnaby Joyce has been a great frontbencher, and I'm looking forward to working with both of them for a very long time," Mr Abbott said.

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