Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg’s enemies want you to know he said “c**t” on Anzac Day.
A video is circulating among political journalists showing the NSW senator — who is facing preselection for his seat on Saturday — speaking into a camera at an oval.
“On behalf of the people of NSW, I participated in a commemoration of the Anzac heroes this morning, in Double Bay, where I was a c**t, and I couldn’t talk,” Bragg says in the clip, doubling forward in laughter as he stumbles over the words.
A rosemary sprig sticking out of Bragg’s front pocket would indicate it was indeed shot on Anzac Day.
Clearly the knives are out for Bragg, although whether it will have any effect remains to be seen. The senator brushed off the leak when reached by Crikey.
“I’m guilty of swearing and I’m guilty of doing too many takes. I await the hangman,” he said in a statement via his office.
Saturday’s preselection is for the Coalition Senate spots that expire in June 2025 — Hollie Hughes, of the centre-right faction, and Bragg, a moderate, are the two Liberals who will have to convince their colleagues to keep them in Parliament. Both have renominated.
Crikey’s been told there is only one serious contender with a chance of unseating either of them: Jess Collins. She is described by Liberal sources as a conservative, has previously nominated for a different Senate seat — the one previously held by Jim Molan and won by Maria Kovacic – as well as the lower house seat of North Sydney, held by teal MP Kylea Tink (Gisele Kapterian won the Liberal preselection for that seat).
The sources said defence wonk Lincoln Parker — previously a candidate for Warringah — has also thrown his hat in the ring.
