Time pressures in Goward's Goulburn replacement

Sitting MP Pru Goward, who announced her resignation at the next election on Wednesday, confirmed there was no time for such a process, given the short run-up to the March State poll.

“The Premier is anxious to get someone in there and she’ll run this and run it fast,” she said.

“All indications are that the work done in Goulburn is well recognised.” 

Ms Goward expected a candidate to be announced within as little as two weeks.

The move is likely to anger some Liberal supporters who are calling for a greater say by party members in candidate selection.

However the party’s constitution allows a direct choice, says member Geoff Kettle. He expects this is the course it will take, given the short timeframe. 

Already, several names have popped up as possible replacements for Ms Goward. One is former Boorowa Council Mayor and Hilltops Council administrator Wendy Tuckerman. She is also a former chair of the Canberra Joint Regional Organisation of Councils, and sat on the Boards of Regional Development Australia Southern Inland and the Rural Assistance Authority.

In 2016, Ms Tuckerman unsuccessfully stood for Nationals pre-selection in the State seat of Cootamundra.

She is understood to be a personal friend of Ms Goward. Moreover, the MP told Sydney media she was keen to see more women in parliament. 

Ms Tuckerman did not return requests for comment. 

Nick Tyrell, a Yass resident and chairman of the Liberals State Electoral Council for Goulburn, is also touted as a possibility.

He declined comment when asked about his intentions. However, in a statement he said Ms Goward’s retirement was a great loss for the party and the community.

“But it’s understandable after decades of public service and life,” he said.

“I’m sure she was looking forward to beating (Labor candidate Dr) Ursula (Stephens) for a second time, but it’s honourable for her to put politics aside to care for her sick husband.” 

Ms Goward said candidate selection was a matter for the party and it was not appropriate for her to comment.

But asked what characteristics she’d like to see in her replacement, she said:

“I wasn’t from (the seat of) Goulburn (before I was elected) but definitely I’d like to see someone who understands country life, is a good listener, has guts and a thick skin.”

Former Goulburn Mulwaree Mayor Geoff Kettle told The Post on Wednesday he was not seeking Liberal Party pre-selection or considering a tilt at the seat as an independent. He is a Liberal Party member.

His name was mentioned in a robocall to voters on Wednesday night.

Asked his thoughts on the candidate selection process, Mr Kettle said:

“I do not think the electorate of Goulburn will stand for another parachute candidate.

“This is a process that needs to happen post haste and whether there’s time for a pre-selection, I don’t know, but the constitutions of both the Liberal and Labor parties do allow the state executive to nominate a candidate.

“I would think that’s the course they’d be considering given that at Christmas, no one wants to talk politics and people are on holidays in January. That takes us to the end of the month before a candidate can be pre-selected, and the election will be only six to eight weeks later.”

Meantime, Goulburn Liberal branch president Grant Pearce has given some insight into Ms Goward’s decision to retire. He said she had been conflicted about her candidature for several months given her husband, David Barnett’s health. Still, her resignation announcement took members “a bit by surprise.”

“I think she’s made the right decision,” Mr Pearce said.

“She’s been a great member for Gouburn and she doesn’t always get the credit for a lot of the things she does. Goulburn has among the lowest unemployment rates in the State and has attracted huge infrastructure spending.

“She is everywhere and for that reason, I think Pru has left very big shoes to fill.”

Mr Pearce agreed that just three months out from the poll, the party’s State Electoral Conference, made up of branch presidents, could be consulted about a candidate but the Premier, with advice from Ms Goward and the State executive, could make a final decision.

He believed this could happen very soon.

“I’d like to think they’d have someone on the ground by January 1,” Mr Pearce said.

He said he’d heard about 12 names mentioned as possible candidates, but declined to identify them.

Someone who was known throughout the entire electorate, had a good track record and who could marshal branch members’ support would be the ideal person, he argued.

“If someone is parachuted in from out of town, that may not go down that well,” Mr Pearce said.

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