Aspiring MP won't step aside for Dutton

Aspiring MP won't step aside for Dutton

The Liberals' newest federal candidate, Karen Andrews, insists she won't step aside
to make way for favoured party son Peter Dutton after winning their preselection
battle for the Gold Coast seat of McPherson.

The mother of three, 49, is at the centre of the latest dilemma to face the federal
Liberals.
They'd wanted to parachute Mr Dutton - a frontbencher and rising star - into the
safe seat.
Ms Andrews' surprise victory has also managed to inflame tensions between the state
and federal branches, with senior frontbencher George Brandis appearing unhappy with
how Queensland Liberal National Party (LNP) members handled the affair.
Ms Andrews, the LNP Gold Coast branch boss, could save the Liberals from an ongoing
headache but on Monday declared she had no intention of stepping aside for Mr
Dutton.
She said she won the contest fair and square, categorically ruling out relinquishing
the spoils should Liberal heavyweights ask her to do so.
"No. The members have made their decision ... and their wishes should be respected,"
she said.
"They have supported me and I intend to continue."
It consigns the Liberals to keep searching for a possible seat for Mr Dutton,
labelled by Senator Brandis as a "potential prime minister of Australia".
Senior Liberals hoped to parachute the opposition health spokesman into McPherson
after a redistribution made his Brisbane electorate of Dickson notionally Labor.
Senator Brandis joined with Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull in urging the LNP to
do everything in its power to ensure Mr Dutton stays in parliament.
But signs of discontent between the state and federal branches are already apparent
and Mr Turnbull's fate as opposition leader could be further threatened by the
demand.
Senator Brandis on Monday refused to assess LNP state president Bruce McIver's
performance and whether he'd done enough to ensure Mr Dutton had the support of
preselectors.
His "no comment" came amid claims of a Nationals' conspiracy to select Ms Andrews in
McPherson and deliberately thwart Mr Dutton.
Asked whether Mr McIver had done enough in his role as president to secure Mr
Dutton's preselection, Senator Brandis drew a blank.
"I'd rather not comment on that. I have my own views, but I'd rather not express
them in a public forum," he said, adding Mr McIver's actions were a private matter
for the party.
"I don't think it's appropriate for me to be speculating on it, or criticising it,
or saying anything about it."
He and Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce both rejected suggestions Nationals members
had acted deliberately against Mr Dutton.
"I think that has about the same credibility as ambit scratchings on the back of a
public lavatory door and probably less credibility as the dog ate my homework,"
Senator Joyce said.
"I was actually trying to get the numbers to support Peter Dutton because I think he
has two things on his side - youth and experience."
Former Queensland premier and Nationals member Rob Borbidge had also spoken in
favour of Mr Dutton during preselection, Senator Brandis said, proving the issue was
not about party lines.
Meanwhile, Mr Dutton is understood to be considering his future, but already
indicated he won't return to Dickson.