Whiteley fails to nominate

FORMER Braddon MP Brett Whiteley has declined to nominate for Liberal preselection for the next election.

The Braddon preselection on Saturday will be the first for the party for the 2019 election.

Mr Whiteley lost the July 28 by-election to Labor’s Justine Keay and then failed to gain preselection for the Senate ticket after an 11th hour deal resulted in Richard Colbeck getting the No. 1 spot, Claire Chandler the No. 2 spot and Tanya Denison No. 3.

Sources said Mr Whiteley, the retiring senior vice presi- dent, did not attend the Liberal state council at the weekend.

Three candidates have put their hands up for Braddon, Mr Whiteley’s by-election campaign manager Kent Townshend, former Devonport Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Stacey Sheehan and Wynyard RSL president Gavin Pearce.

Tasmania branch President Geoff Page said a preselection for Franklin would occur on October 16.

Mr Whiteley lost his seat at the 2016 double dissolution election. He also lost his state seat in 2010.

Mr Whiteley did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.

Sources said the party was trying to entice former Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson to stand in the sprawling electorate against Labor MP Brian Mitchell.

No date has been settled for Bass, Lyons or Denison.

Senate candidate Wendy Summers, the sister of sitting Senator David Bushby, will not be a Bass candidate.