Wendy Tuckerman to run for Liberals in Goulburn

But during Wednesday’s announcement in Goulburn, Premier Gladys Berejiklian dodged questions about the lack of a pre-selection. She told The Post that the process was the “last thing” people needed to worry about.

“What we need to worry about is that we have the best candidate hitting the ground and dealing with the issues that matter to people,” she said.

“The vast majority of the people just want to know that we’re getting on with making their lives better. They don’t really care about the process.”

Some members of the party have previously criticised the process and said Ms Tuckerman was not well known in Goulburn city where the seat would be won and lost.

But the Premier said she was convinced Ms Tuckerman was the best possible candidate. She confirmed that retiring Liberal Goulburn MP Pru Goward had “strongly recommended” Ms Tuckerman.

Former Goulburn Mulwaree Mayor Geoff Kettle said he was disappointed and that he would be thinking deeply in coming weeks on whether he would run as an Independent.

He said he ran for Liberal pre-selection and was interviewed by the party’s nomination review committee in the past week.

It’s understood at least one other person was considered.

Ms Tuckerman said she was thrilled to be chosen and was surprised by Ms Goward’s retirement announcement. 

“I had no thoughts of running until approached and I certainly saw it as a wonderful opportunity to continue to represent my community at a different level and make a difference,” she said.

Ms Goward was in Boorowa in the days before announcing her retirement for several funding allocations.

Ms Tuckerman unsuccessfully ran for National Party pre-selection at the 2017 Cootamundra by-election. She said she decided not to renew her financial membership, partly due to her role as a Hilltops councillor.

“I didn’t believe the National Party was where I needed to be at the time,” she said.

She confirmed she only joined the Liberal Party last month.

Read more:

Tuckerman firms as Liberal choice for Goulburn

Kettle considers tilt at Goulburn electorate

The Nationals ponder Goulburn electoral bid

Ms Tuckerman was born in Cowra and grew up in Canberra. As a schoolgirl she represented Australia in hockey and on occasions played the game in Goulburn and Crookwell.

She moved to a Boorowa property with her detective husband and two children in 1997. It followed a 14-year career in the Australian Federal Police as a detective specialising in sexual assault, child abuse and drug matters.

In more recent years she has chaired the Canberra Joint Regional Organisation of Councils (CJROC), a role now held by Yass Shire Mayor Rowena Abbey.

Ms Tuckerman said this gave her good insight into the region and its issues.

“There’s no doubt this electorate is poised to increase its capacity in businesses and services,” she said.

“We’re on the edge of Sydney and this is something that’s been looked at by the CJROC for many years –how we attract some of those western Sydney businesses here so they can develop their residences up there.”

Ms Tuckerman described herself as a good listener and a “people person” who was keen to hear about voters’ concerns.

Responding to claims that she was not well known in Goulburn itself, she told The Post she would be working hard on this.

“I certainly am known in a number of fields and in local government and I have contacts in the area,” she said.

“I think I have a great track record on actually delivering so I’ll listen to people’s concerns, do what I can to get elected and show them I’m the right person for the job.”

If elected, she pledged to have an office in Goulburn.

With just two months out from the election Ms Tuckerman said the party would be doing its utmost to “rally the troops” and draw on her many contacts in the area who had offered assistance.

Asked whether she was confident she could win the seat against Labor’s Dr Ursula Stephens who dented Ms Goward’s margin at the 2015, Ms Tuckerman said:

“Absolutely I can win. I deliver. I’m passionate about delivering services to the region and making it a better place to be. If that comes through I’m sure the people of the region will see that and hopefully vote for me.”

Dr Stephens said it appeared Ms Tuckerman was always the preferred candidate but it had taken a long time to happen.

“She’ll have to get out and work as hard as me to get herself known,” she said.

“...We’ve done over 10,000 calls and 10,000km so she has some catching up to do.

“There’s been a lot of speculation about Pru’s retirement announcement and she hasn’t done the Liberals much service (in that respect).”

Did you know The Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.