John Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) | Hansard source

Last week I was delighted to see the Liberal Party in Bennelong conduct a full and open preselection meeting to decide who will be the candidate to represent Bennelong at the upcoming election. I announced my retirement last November to provide plenty of notice to would-be candidates and to the party to steward a full and fair contest free of potential distractions and impositions.

It was great that 250 preselectors turned up at the meeting. It's a courageous act to put one's hand up for consideration at a preselection meeting. It is a stressful process. I commend and thank the nominees who stepped forward: Rose Torossian, Trenton Brown, Craig Chung, Gisele Kapterian and Simon Kennedy. Rose is a wonderful local Liberal Party member and activist over many years. Trenton is a passionate and effective local councillor on Ryde council. Craig is a proud former local councillor and an active community advocate. Gisele has incredibly impressive professional experience and a compelling personal backstory. But there can only be one winner, so I congratulate Simon Kennedy on gaining Liberal Party preselection for Bennelong. The family man won the night on the back of his outstanding performance, outreach to the selectors, impressive professional achievements and local connections. He grew up in Bennelong and was captain of Epping Boys High School. I commend him to the people of Bennelong. He will make a fine representative, and he has my full endorsement and encouragement. (Time expired)

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