By DAVID BRAITHWAITE

 

THE National Party has begun a new pre-selection process for its candidate for Gippsland East at the November state election.

The pre-selection process was triggered by incumbent MP Tim Bull’s announcement that he will be stepping down at the election after 16 years in parliament.

In the wake of Mr Bull’s announcement, prominent East Gippsland voice Mick Harrington said via social media and a newspaper column of his intention to nominate, while Gemma Rendell, a teacher from the Bairnsdale area, is also known to be seeking pre-selection.

The Express understands at least one other member is throwing their hat in the ring to be the Nationals candidate.

However, Mr Harrington has since announced he has withdrawn from the race.

Mr Harrington, a grand finalist in TV singing contest The Voice, has been executive director of Forest and Wood Communities Australia and worked in Mr Bull’s electorate office, said he had changed his mind after conversations with his “family, close mates and mentors”.

“It hasn’t been an easy decision because the fire in the belly is still there. I still care deeply about our region, our communities and the future of country Victoria,” he posted on social media.

“But at this point in my life, my biggest priority is my family. With an already busy life with four young kids under nine, I want to make sure I can give them a good life and, most importantly, be the best dad I can be for them while they’re growing up.

“It hasn’t been an easy decision because the fire in the belly is still there. I still care deeply about our region, our communities and the future of country Victoria,” he posted on social media.

In an email sent to National Party members, seen by the Express, Ms Rendell told members she and Mr Bull had discussed the possibility of her running.

“Over recent months, Tim and I have shared many conversations and coffees, and I’m grateful for both his encouragement to stand and his generosity with his time. He has already introduced me to some members, and I look forward to meeting many more of you in the weeks ahead,” Ms Rendell wrote.

“I am a passionate deer and pest-control hunter, have competed at state level in equestrian disciplines, and spent many years volunteering, coaching and judging through local pony clubs, agricultural shows and community events. I also played and coached both junior and senior netball across Bairnsdale and the Omeo district for many years.

“Professionally, I am a teacher and have worked across childcare, kindergarten, primary and secondary education. Through that experience, I have become increasingly passionate about ensuring regional students and families have access to high-quality education.”

Mr Bull confirmed with the Express he has had discussions with Ms Rendell, as well as Mr Harrington.

“I’ve been talking to (Ms Rendell). I think it’s incumbent on a retiring member to ensure that there is a plan in place to make sure you’ve got at least one good person who’s prepared to put their hand up to fill your boots, but that will ultimately be up to the membership,” he said.

“Yes, I did identify Gemma. I’ve known her for a little while, and through interactions, I think she’s a very impressive individual. I have been talking to her about in the event that I do retire from parliament, that she might be interested in putting up her hand and in those discussions, she was very keen to do so. I’m very, very pleased that she has done so.

“(Mr Harrington) had a fair idea that it was a chance that I would not go on and we had a conversation a while ago where he indicated that he probably would be running. He’s obviously reflected on that and changed his mind.

“We’ll have a fair and open and transparent (pre-selection) process, and I have chatted to him (Mr Harrington), since my retirement and we’re good mates and we will continue to be good mates as well, absolutely.”

Mr Bull said he had been thinking about leaving politics since the last election.

“When the 2022 election came around, it fleetingly crossed my mind then, but we just come through the fires, we just come through COVID,” he said.

“We were dealing with a lot of individuals, and a lot of businesses that were going through, still going through, an enormous amount of hardship. And I can remember thinking it’ll be pretty weak if I didn’t at least put up my hand given what we’ve just been through as a region.”

The Nationals sought nominations for pre-selection in January, with Mr Bull’s the only one received.

“I nominated for pre-selection earlier this year, simply to make sure that I didn’t have any second thoughts or any regrets,” Mr Bull told the Express.

“It was always my intention to not announce too late, but I just wanted to give myself a little bit more time to just make sure I was making the right decision. And over the past few months, if anything, it’s become probably a bit more clearer to me personally, that it is the right time and there are no regrets.”

The absence of a sitting Nationals member seeking re-election opens the door for their Coalition partner the Liberal Party to enter a candidate for Gippsland East for the first time since 2010.

The Liberals candidate at that election, current East Gippsland Shire councillor Sonia Buckley, has been touted in the Weekly Times as a possible One Nation candidate for the seat. Cr Buckley also ran for the Liberal Democrats in the seat at the 2018 election.

One Nation could a wild card in Gippsland East, while Labor and the Greens will field candidates. Also, a new group, Gippsland East Matters, is searching for someone to be a “community-backed” independent candidate.