‘Voters don’t want a culture war’: Victorian Liberals raise concerns over preselections

Moira Deeming was endorsed for selection for the upper house Western Metropolitan Region seat at a Liberal party convention on Saturday night. Photograph: Liberal party of Australia Victoria Division

Several Victorian Liberal MPs have raised concerns the preselection of candidates at the weekend could undermine efforts to present as a more progressive party ahead of the November state election.

Evan Mulholland, from the right-leaning Institute of Public Affairs, was preselected on Sunday for the top spot on the Liberal party ticket for the upper house Northern Metropolitan Region, replacing Craig Ondarchie. This came after Melton city councillor Moira Deeming was endorsed for the Western Metropolitan Region on Saturday.