The Liberal Party replaced Grant Hutchinson as its Croydon candidate less than seven weeks before Victoria’s November 28 election, after its state executive voted to disendorse him over new information about a civil case. The move clears the way for Toby Wooldridge, the son of former federal Liberal minister Michael Wooldridge and nephew of former MP Mary Wooldridge, to stand in the marginal seat.
The Party’s Decision
Opposition leader Jess Wilson said further details about a lawsuit Hutchinson brought against his own law firm had come to the party’s attention. “It’s no longer appropriate for him to be a candidate,” she said. Asked whether she was confident in the party’s vetting, Wilson replied, “Yes,” and added: “As I said ... new information has come to light.”
The state executive voted to disendorse Hutchinson on Monday night. Wilson sits on the executive. It removed Hutchinson that night, after endorsing him last year.
The lawsuit, which prompted a counterclaim, had been public knowledge since last year and some media outlets had reported on it. One Liberal figure said the party feared the case could drag on. Another source said people familiar with the court case were bewildered by the decision: the case was well known in political circles, and no recent developments had emerged.
Candidate Selection
One source suspected Wooldridge was the preferred candidate. A third source called the change a “captain’s pick.” The report doesn’t name the sources. Wooldridge will stand for Croydon.
Hutchinson is a senior lawyer and a member of the party’s religious right. His endorsement last year astounded some Liberal members, according to the report. Campaign material appeared on his Instagram account, which has since been deleted. Hutchinson didn’t respond to requests for comment.
The Liberal Party holds the seat by a 1.4 per cent margin. Longstanding Croydon member David Hodgett is retiring after 20 years in parliament, and the party would expect to extend its lead at the November 28 election.
Other candidate disputes have also troubled the party. It removed current MP Moira Deeming as a candidate in a separate endorsement dispute and declined to endorse Dinesh Gourisetty after his preselection.
The reported contest centers on party endorsement, a civil case and choices by party officials and sources. The account provides no figures on campaign spending, salaries, profits or financial gain connected to the candidate change. It reports no effect on workers, unions or public services, and no organized labor response. No reform proposal appears in the report. The state action described is an internal party vote, not a government or court decision. Hutchinson is out, and Wooldridge will contest the seat. The party expects to extend its narrow lead.