Dutton may get time to decide future

Queensland Liberal Peter Dutton may be given more breathing space to decide his
political future.
The Liberal frontbencher has been in political limbo after he failed to win
pre-selection for the seat of McPherson earlier this month.
He had intended to dump his own seat of Dickson because it became nominally Labor
after a recent electoral redistribution but its prospects improved last week
following further changes.
Since his failure in McPherson, Mr Dutton has been considering whether to again take
a chance with Dickson, try for another seat or maybe leave politics.
It's looking increasingly likely Mr Dutton will renominate for Dickson but the issue
may be another hiccup for Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull, who has urged the
state organisation to find an appropriate seat for the frontbencher.
Mr Dutton - seen as a potential future leader of the Liberal Party - refused to
comment on Monday about his intentions for his political future.
He indicated he would make a statement on Tuesday.
LNP nominations for the Dickson pre-selection, as well as 17 other seats not held by
the party, were due to close on Tuesday but the state organisation indicated it may
be extend the deadline.
State director Michael O'Dwyer told the nomination period could be extended to give
potential candidates more time to consider their nomination.
"There's a possibility but we will be making that decision tomorrow," he said.
"It's not just about Dickson tomorrow. We'll be looking across the board to see what
we do.
"We've been speaking to a number of people we'd like on board and they are just
trying to get their personal lives in order to make a decision. We are just trying
to cast our net as wide as possible."
Mr O'Dwyer said he wasn't certain about Mr Dutton's plans.
"Obviously there are discussions with him and we are encouraging him," he said.
Mr Dutton's attempt to find a safer seat wouldn't necessarily work against him if he
decided to stand for Dickson.
"Certainly the LNP membership of Dickson would be interested in having Peter there,"
he said.
As the Liberals consider the future of a man touted as a potential leader, two party
stalwarts officially resigned on Monday, making way for new political blood.
Former treasurer Peter Costello and one-time opposition leader Brendan Nelson
formally tended their resignations for their seats of Higgins and Bradfield on
Monday.
House of Representative Speaker Harry Jenkins is expected to name a date for the two
by-elections in the next few days.
A writ for the election won't be issued before next Monday so the earliest it could
be held is November 28.
The government is unlikely to want it to run into the pre-Christmas holiday period
in December.
Mr Costello is throwing his weight behind his former staffer Kelly O'Dwyer, who has
won pre-selection for Higgins, but admits it won't be easy.
"It will be a tough by-election," Mr Costello said.
Former Optus boss Paul Fletcher is the Liberal nominee for Bradfield.