The Senate seat left up by Jim Molan’s passing earlier this year has already been preselected by the previous leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party.
Maria Kovacic, a supporter of the moderate wing of the party, won with a vote of 266-243 during a party meeting on Saturday.
She defeated Andrew Constance, a former NSW cabinet member and Bega MP.
The Western Sydney businesswoman described being chosen by the members as an honour and a privilege and expressed excitement about “holding Labour to account.”
She declared, “I want to make it absolutely obvious that I’m here to fight for our neighbourhood.
And anticipate holding Labour accountable for their bad choices and broken promises.
If she was pleased that a woman had been chosen, she said, “I certainly am.”
After failing to win the Parramatta seat in the federal election, this was Ms. Kovacic’s second attempt to enter federal politics.
She left her position as state party president in April of this year to contest for the open Senate seat, and at the time was seen as one of the favourites.
Mr. Constance, a fellow moderate, was seen as a serious possibility.
She remarked that being finally elected was “really special”.
“I’m so appreciative to our membership for choosing me to represent them in Canberra and for their confidence in me,” the member said.
Ms. Kovacic has a history of engagement with the local population as the co-founder of Western Sydney Women and Western Sydney Executive Women as well as a member of the Committee for Western Sydney.
Sussan Ley, the deputy leader of the opposition, applauded the outcome and hailed Ms Kovacic as a “formidable woman” whose expertise would be a valuable asset to the federal team.
The only way to confront and correct the gender imbalance in our parliamentary ranks, according to Ms. Ley, is by preselecting more women.
“And I’m overjoyed that the New South Wales branch, my home division, has decided to do that today.
“I am eager to collaborate with Maria to support regional communities throughout the state.”
Two years after receiving a cancer diagnosis of an aggressive type, Senator Molan passed away in January. His age was 72.
Today, Ms. Kovacic paid homage to the late senator.
“What a significant legacy he has left, and what enormous shoes to fill. I will try my best to fill those.”
