3:05pm: Pru Goward will face challenge from Nationals
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Chairman of the New South Wales Nationals Hon Niall Blair MLC has today announced that the Party will be contesting the electorate of Goulburn at the next State election and that nominations for pre-selection in the seat are now open.
“Last night, in response to a request from the local Electorate Council, the Central Executive of the New South Wales Nationals approved a timetable for the Party’s pre-selection in the electorate of Goulburn,” Mr Blair said.
“Nominations have opened today and will close next Monday 24 February. A pre-selection meeting will then be conducted on Friday 14 March.”
“As with all National Party pre-selections in lower house electorates, every financial member of at least six months standing in the electorate will be entitled to attend and have their say on who our candidate should be.”
“The NSW Nationals have the most democratic pre-selection process of any Party and I have full confidence that members in the Goulburn electorate will select a strong representative for the region,” Mr Blair said.
11:52am: Pru Goward may face challenge from Nationals - courtesy of the SMH
The Nationals will open a preselection in the state seat of Goulburn on Monday, in a controversial challenge to prominent Liberal MP and community services minister, Pru Goward.
The announcement places at risk an agreement between the Liberals and Nationals that guarantees the Nationals three winnable seats on the joint upper house ticket at next year's election.
A redistribution of electoral boundaries announced last year abolished Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson's seat of Burrinjuck to create the seat of Cootamundra and a redrawn Goulburn.
The change prompted speculation Ms Hodgkinson, a Nationals MP, might run for Ms Goward's seat.
Upper house MP and NSW Nationals chairman Niall Blair has also been mentioned as a potential candidate.
It is understood the preselection will be held on March 14.
![Pru Goward, NSW Liberal MP for Goulburn Pru Goward, NSW Liberal MP for Goulburn](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-GaYa9c7QuNtLLX2kQCbPqP/34885a8f-e52d-4dcf-af0d-2447d7420d2e.JPG/r0_0_1280_720_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)