Senator Gary Humphries has lost preselection for the Liberal Party’s ACT Senate ticket to Zed Seselja.
In a preselection ballot today, Seselja defeated Humphries by 114 votes to 84.
Seselja’s win is a victory for the conservative wing of the Liberal Party. Humphries has always been regarded as a small-l Liberal.
Humphries, 54, has been an Australian Capital Territory Senator since 2003. Previously, he was Chief Minister of the ACT (2000-01). Elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly in 1989, he held various portfolios in Liberal governments, including Attorney-General (1995-2000) and Treasurer (1999-2001).
Seselja, 35, was elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly in 2004. He served as Leader of the Opposition from 2007 until earlier this month.
Territory senators serve concurrent terms with the House of Representatives. Assuming the September 14 election proceeds as announced, Seselja will enter the Senate at that time. New Senators elected from the states will not take their seats until July 1, 2014.
