Whatever the result of Saturday’s heated Liberal preselection battle in Bronwyn Bishop’s seat of Mackellar, Mike Baird is likely to emerge a winner.
That’s because the popular New South Wales premier has hedged his bets by endorsing the three leading contenders – the former federal Speaker and her two main rivals.
According to a Daily Telegraph report, Baird said Bishop was “adored by her constituency and is known for her tenacious ability to take the fight to Labor”.
“I’m pleased to support Bronwyn’s nomination for preselection.”
Bishop resigned as Speaker after a high-profile expenses scandal for her use of a $5,000 chartered helicopter flight to attend a party fundraiser.
Baird also said she was a trailblazer for women and a “tireless champion and advocate for the electorate of Mackellar”.
What’s better than being a tireless champion? Perhaps being “perfectly suited” for the job?
Those were among the words Baird used to describe Walter Villatora, a former campaign director for Baird and president of the Warringah federal conference, in Tony Abbott’s seat.
Baird said “it is my firm belief that Villatora is perfectly suited to representing the people of Australia in federal parliament”.
The reference for Villatora said Baird had “always known Walter to be a person of integrity with an extensive knowledge of business and political processes”.
In addition to endorsements from Baird and Abbott, Villatora’s campaign has a further ace up its sleeve: an endorsement from Dick Smith, who has threatened to run as an independent if Bishop is preselected.
Baird also had good words to say about the third contender, Jason Falinksi, a former Warringah councillor who founded a healthcare equipment company and has worked as an adviser to the NSW transport minister, Andrew Constance.
“Starting a business in Australia is evidence of an entrepreneurial spirit, succeeding at it, is evidence of entrepreneurial skill … Jason [Falinski] would be an excellent representative in the federal parliament,” Baird said.
Falinski’s campaign material included endorsements from former premier Nick Greiner and former Howard government minister Amanda Vanstone.
According to the Daily Telegraph report, a spokeswoman for Baird explained the three endorsements by saying “the premier is always keen to endorse quality candidates running in a key Liberal seat”.
