Former deputy prime minister John Anderson’s planned return to Federal Parliament ended on Friday last week when he lost a National senate preselection contest to former NSW Nationals director Ross Cadell.
Former deputy PM John Anderson addressing a transport symposium in Toowoomba in 2015. Picture: Lucy RC Photography.
Mr Anderson had put his name forward to contest the top spot on the NSW Nationals Senate ticket but lost in a “tight” vote, as reported by The Australian, and withdrew from the contest rather than taking the almost unwinnable second position on the ballot.
The second position in the ballot went to former Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council chief executive and former Nationals senior political staffer Alison Penfold.
Mr Anderson, 64, told the media he believed it was the “end of the political road for me”.
“I felt the need to put myself forward because of the need of the nation and the experience and knowledge I had to offer.”
Earlier this year he explained in his podcast that the decision to offer himself to the New South Wales National Party and potentially to voters was not one made lightly, and “certainly not driven by a desire to return to the grind of political life”.
“It reflects my deep belief that the times that we live in are indeed dangerous and that each of us must now ask ourselves what we can and should do rather than merely ask ourselves simply, “What would I like to do?”
“And after careful thought and a lot of encouragement from others, I came to the conclusion that it’s right for me to at least offer to play for the team that I once captained in an earlier time.
“My objective would be to bring the wide range of experience and perspectives that I’ve been so fortunate to accumulate over my public and personal life to the table in order to encourage and to build up and to strengthen the National Party team and through that the coalition and to do all that I could to encourage the high-quality national debate that is the key, the vital key, the only key, really, to good public policy.”
Ross Cadell, Michael McCormack and Alison Penfold.
Ross Cadell and Alison Penfold will stand on the New South Wales Coalition Senate ticket at the next Federal election following the preselection by grassroots party members on Friday.
Federal President of The Nationals Kay Hull said Ross and Alison would add a valuable and passionate voice to the federal debate.
“Regional Australia has faced drought, bushfires, floods, COVID-19 and now the mice plague but importantly, they understand that regional Australians are some of our most resilient,” Mrs Hull said.
“Ross and Alsion recognise that regional communities are the backbone of our nation and I know that they will stand up in Canberra and fight for their betterment.”
NSW Nationals Chairman Andrew Fraser congratulated Ross and Alison on their preselection, and thanked all of the candidates who put their time and effort into the process.
“The Nationals are the most democratic grassroots party in the country and we have seen that demonstrated here today,” Mr Fraser said.
“I am certain our members from right across the state have selected strong advocates for regional families and communities and I look forward to working with them through the campaign.”
Mr Cadell, who is the lead Nationals’ candidate, said he was already drawing on his immense experience in delivering for the regions.
“It is an honour to be preselected to represent regional NSW, which has a really fantastic future ahead of it,” Mr Cadell said.
“Regional Australia is the heartbeat of our great nation and we need more people in Canberra spruiking this fact.
“We need to continue to secure the future of our regions moving forward and I know The Nationals are dogged in this belief as they lay the economic foundations for regional, rural and remote areas to thrive well into the future.”
Ms Penfold said NSW Nationals preselections were always a great day for democracy and the Party.
“We had a great field of candidates, I believe in our brand, it brings great people in, and it is great to be part of this process,” she said.
“Together, we can ensure the nation is strong, resilient and united.”
John Anderson was was an excellent leader of the National Party. He was a leader of integrity. I hope he returns to Parliament. Australia needs more parliamentarians like John.
The National Party has gone mad in not preselecting John Anderson. Is it any wonder that the Party is under siege from One Nation and Shooters and Fishers. Australia needs John Anderson in the Senate to act as a stabilising influence after the retirement of Mathias Korman. Instead, thanks to the Preselectirs, we have Mr. Cadell, someone never heard of and never likely to make an impact on the political scene. Someone there just to make up the numbers and to satisfy the Factional Heavyweights. Shame on the Party. It is becoming a ” back stabbing” mog of egotist, just like the Liberal Party.
John Anderson would have been the perfect replacement for Mic Mac, if the Nationals felt they needed new leadership. He is still only 64.
Huge lost opportunity, with an outcome the electorate is obviously not happy with.
Can John Anderson still contest for the Federal Senate as an Independent or on a One Nation Ticket?
This is a good news. The Anderson Red Meat Industry structure has been a disaster for cattle producers.
He gave processors control of their own levies and the big multination meat packers control of ours through their feedlot votes.
Anderson also gave dividends of our levies to fund so called peak councils under the Umbrella of RMAC(compulsory unionism).
The senate recommendations in 2014 would of given back producer control of our levies but the Nationals were the only political party to block the recommendations.