Former Liberal MP Tim Smith, who resigned from politics after a drunken car crash, could return to state parliament following the resignation of former minister Ryan Smith.
Speaking from London where he has been living since late last year, Smith told The Age that he was interested in rebooting his political career and running for preselection in the seat of Warrandyte in Melbourne’s north-east.
Former shadow attorney-general Tim Smith is considering a return to politics.Credit: Paul Jeffers
Smith said his decision to try and relaunch his political career was driven by his ongoing "desire to remove the Andrews government”.
“It would be fair to say that the Liberals, in the past six months, have spent more time attacking each other than Labor,” he said.
"My role as a community representative has brought me into contact with an amazing array of people throughout the electorate, and I have valued the opportunity to work with and for them all," he said.
“However, amongst other reasons, I have become increasingly uncomfortable with the growing negative tone of politics, both internally and more broadly.”
Angry Liberal members booed and heckled Pesutto sat the party’s state conference in BendigoCredit: Penny Stephens
Liberal MPs are speculating that the byelection will present a new leadership test for Pesutto who was booed and heckled by dozens of Liberal members over his support for the expulsion motion against Deeming.
Three frontbench Liberal MPs told The Age Pesutto would face an immediate spill motion if the Liberal Party failed to retain the seat which takes in the suburbs of Doncaster East, Donvale, Ringwood North, Warrandyte, and Wonga Park.
Addressing the media on Wednesday morning, Pesutto said he learned of Smith’s resignation, like the wider public, by reading his statement.
Tim Smith arrived at Parliament House for his final press conference with his electorate officer, Caroline Inge.Credit: Justin McManus
“ I think we all need to respect the way Ryan wanted to own the way he wanted to make these announcements,” he said.
The opposition leader added that the Liberals will “throw everything” at Warrandyte to retain the seat.
On Wednesday, Ryan Smith announced he was quitting parliament after 16 years in politics triggering a by-election.Credit: Eddie Jim
“I’ll be working, obviously, with the membership and the leadership of the organisational side of the party to make sure we choose the strongest candidate. I would very much like to see a woman in amongst the candidates.”
With Tim Smith weighing up a return to politics, other potential candidates being encouraged to run include Sarah Overton, federal Liberal vice-president Caroline Inge and upper house Liberal MP Matt Bach.
Inge, who used to work for Tim Smith and was one of the first on the scene after his Hawthorn car crash, is also one of his closest political allies. She confirmed to The Age that she was "strongly considering" a tilt and had strong support from party members and senior MPs.
“The Liberal Party needs more bright and experienced women who will take the fight up to the Andrews Labor government,” Inge said.
When contacted by The Age on Wednesday, Overton – who also has strong internal support – refused to comment on whether she would run.
The Labor Party is still considering whether it will run a candidate in Warrandyte after the party's unexpected win in the federal seat of Aston.
One senior Labor source said the party was inclined not to, pointing to its decision not to have a candidate in the Narracan supplementary election earlier this year. The Labor figure said the state government was in its third term, and had just handed down a budget to hike taxes that would hit aspirational outer-suburban families in Warrandyte.
- With Sumeyya Ilanbey
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2023-05-31 02:39:38Z
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