Fed: Bradfield wide open as Sinodinos declines political career

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2009
Fed: Bradfield wide open as Sinodinos declines political career

By Kate Hannon, National Political Editor

CANBERRA, Aug 26 AAP - The field of potential Liberal candidates to succeed Brendan
Nelson is wide open after John Howard's former chief of staff, Arthur Sinodinos, announced
he would not seek preselection.

The NSW Liberal Party is yet to call for nominations for preselection, but Mr Sinodinos
on Wednesday confirmed he would stay out of politics.

Meanwhile, it looks likely that the Liberals' main opponents in Dr Nelson's seat of
Bradfield on Sydney's well-heeled north shore will be the Australian Greens and a likely
raft of independents.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd confirmed on Wednesday that Labor would not run a candidate
in the by-election for the seat.

Dr Nelson had been expected to retire at the next election due in late 2010 but announced
on Tuesday he would quit at the end of September this year.

Mr Sinodinos said in a statement on Wednesday morning, issued through the NSW Liberal
Party, that his reasons for not standing were personal.

Mr Sinodinos worked for Mr Howard in opposition in the late 1980s and for nine years
as his chief of staff in government before he quit in 2006 to work in banking.

"I know the sacrifices involved in a serious political career, having served at the
highest levels of government for an extended period," he said.

The decision leaves a veritable Melbourne Cup field of potential candidates, with Simon
Berger, a senior adviser to Dr Nelson, seen as a prominent contender.

Last week, Dr Nelson told his local newspaper, the North Shore Times, that the preselection
of his replacement was up to the party, but if Mr Berger was interested he would do an
outstanding job.

Other possible candidates include Killara barrister and grazier Paul Blanch, research
fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs Tom Switzer, and Julian Leeser, executive director
of the Menzies Research Centre.

Bradfield is the safest metropolitan Liberal electorate in the country, held by a margin
of 13.5 per cent.

Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull said on Tuesday the by-election, expected to be
in November, would be a test of the federal government's economic management and the performance
of the state Labor government.

Mr Rudd said there was no point in Labor wasting money by running a candidate in a
by-election it had no chance of winning.

"It is a rock-solid, blue-ribbon Liberal seat in the northern part of Sydney," Mr Rudd said.

"If you stand the Labor Party in by-elections like this it costs the Labor Party lots
of money, and we'd much rather conserve our resources for other purposes."

AAP keh/sb/jl

KEYWORD: BRADFIELD WRAP

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