Phelps was the Liberals’ choice

I normally vote Liberal, subscribe to The Saturday

Paper and I voted for Dr Kerryn Phelps and gave her the support I could (Paul Bongiorno, “Wentworth falls”, October 27–November 2). While her success can be attributed to many causes, it must not just be attributed to voter anger about party-room treatment of Malcolm Turnbull (though I didn’t like it one bit). Rather, Dr Phelps should have been the Liberal candidate in the first place. She ticks key boxes for Wentworth. She is local and a high-achiever in the private sector. She even has dogs – virtually everyone in Wentworth has at least one pup, typically two. While I do not agree with all of her politics, I recognise that she is overwhelmingly reasonable, moderate, highly intelligent and independent. That is what many of us look for in our representative. Wentworth also has a history of electing MPs who have been highly successful in the private sector: Turnbull was a successful lawyer and merchant banker; Peter King was a lawyer; and Dr John Hewson an economist. Dr Phelps was the first woman president of the Australian Medical Association and shares this tradition of success. John Howard never should have meddled in our election. On the other hand, Scott Morrison’s favourite, Woollahra councillor Katherine O’Regan, would have won handily. Dr Phelps may not have even challenged if Ms O’Regan was the party choice.

– Harry Melkonian, Vaucluse, NSW