Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Anthony Marsh has been selected as the Liberal Party’s candidate for Nepean, after the decision was conveyed to STPL News by a party source and later confirmed publicly in a Facebook post by Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie.
Ms McKenzie congratulated Marsh and said he had been selected to contest the seat at the Nepean by-election scheduled for 2 May. She also referred to Marsh’s time on council since November 2020 and said he has been elected mayor three times.
Background: weeks of reporting on Marsh’s preselection bid
Marsh’s endorsement follows weeks of reporting by STPL News on his preselection bid and internal divisions within the local Liberal Party.
Earlier this month, party sources told STPL News that some members believed Marsh entered the contest with political “baggage” and that his candidacy was seen by parts of the party as too risky.
STPL News also reported concerns from within party ranks that backing Marsh could become an “own goal” in a closely watched by-election, with some members warning it could alienate sections of the local base.
Other sources indicated at the time that Marsh had strong support from senior party figures, and that a panel-style selection process was likely to favour his nomination.
Party member says members did not get a vote
The endorsement has drawn an angry response from a Liberal Party member on the Mornington Peninsula, who spoke to STPL News on condition of anonymity.
The member said they were unhappy the Nepean candidate decision was made through a panel process rather than a broader vote of party members.
Disgusted that my right to vote as a member was taken away.
The member told STPL News they would resign their Liberal Party membership. They also said they intended to vote for One Nation. The member used stronger language in the conversation that STPL News is not publishing.
The comments also come amid growing support for minor parties, including One Nation, as voter dissatisfaction with both major parties remains high in parts of the electorate, according to recent polling and community feedback.
A separate voter draws comparison to 1982 Flinders by-election
A separate Liberal-aligned voter, who also asked not to be named, drew a historical comparison to the 1982 Flinders by-election.
In a 2018 obituary for Rogan Ward, Bayside News reported Ward was Labor’s candidate in the December 1982 Flinders by-election, which was won by Liberal candidate Peter Reith by 34,765 votes to 31,052. The same report states the by-election was followed by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser calling an early double dissolution election, which Labor went on to win under Bob Hawke.
I remember back in the day Rogan Ward was put up by Labor as a by election candidate for Flinders
Rogan wasn’t well liked, but Labor organizers got it wrong. I think Peter Reith got up
Off the back of that Libs called a snap election and Bob Hawke got in
I have a feeling Marsh and Rogan are similar some 50 years apart
The 1982 by-election was held more than four decades ago.
The voter said they believed the party risked repeating past mistakes by backing a candidate they consider divisive.
With the Liberal candidate now confirmed and internal concerns still being raised, attention turns to how voters in Nepean will respond at the ballot box.
Do you believe Anthony Marsh is the right choice for Nepean, or has the party taken an unnecessary risk?
