Crewther puts up hand for Senate
Lawyer Chris Crewther, formerly of Horsham, might soon be back among the cut and thrust of federal politics if he can gain Liberal Party endorsement to fill a soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat.
Mr Crewther, 35, has formally applied to again represent the party, by filling a Victorian Senate position created by the impending departure of Senator Mitch Fifield.
Mr Crewther lives at Mt Eliza on the Mornington Peninsula with his wife Grace and two children but maintains a close relationship with the Wimmera through his family.
His parents Barry and Debra and younger brother Lee live in Horsham.
Mr Crewther started his foray into
federal politics when he stood as a Liberal candidate for Mallee in 2013.
He was unsuccessful but joined the House of Representatives as Member for Dunkley at the subsequent election.
Following electoral redistribution, which transformed Dunkley into a nominally Labor Party electorate, he lost the seat to his Labor opponent at the 2019 Federal Election.
He is among seven Liberal candidates for the Senate seat, which Senator Fifield will vacate to take up an ambassador role with the United Nations.
Other candidates include former upper-house member Inga Peulich, journalist and former Member for Corangamite Sarah Henderson, Greg Mirabella, John Macisaac, Watts and Kyle Hoppitt.
Mr Crewther is strictly forbidden to discuss his pre-selection nomination with the media but in a statement on social media said he was ‘putting his hand up’ because he believed he had ‘a lot’ more to contribute ‘to making Australia an even better place’. Mittie
Keen to contribute
He posted: “At 35, I remain passionate and energetic about making a difference in the lives of individual Victorians and Australians, so that people are not disadvantaged by their postcode, their family circumstances or their background.
“As a senator I believe I would also be able to contribute a lot more in the policy-development space and advancement of Liberal principles, something I have longed to sink my teeth into more – much as I did with chairing the Modern Slavery Inquiry that led to the Modern Slavery Act.
“Having grown up in the Wimmera, and currently living on the Mornington Peninsula, I would also work hard to ensure that Victorians from the country and the city are all represented and would remain a strong advocate for investment in regional connectivity infrastructure and services.”
Mr Crewther posted that he had made the decision after ‘much’ contemplation with his family during the last several weeks – and after introducing baby son Edward to great-grandparents in Australia and South Korea. Mr Crewther attended Horsham 298 Primary School, Horsham Lutheran Primary School, Murtoa Secondary College and Horsham College.
He has two master’s degrees from the Australian National University in international law and diplomacy.
He also has a law degree from the University of Canberra and undertook part of a Bachelor of Commerce-bachelor of Science degree at the University of Melbourne.
Before entering politics he practiced law, worked with the Department of Agriculture, was Mildura Development Corporation chief executive, was an international lawyer through the United Nations at Kosovo and ran an agriculture business.