NATIONAL Party candidate Marty Corboy has promised to “campaign his guts out” in a bid to reclaim Indi for the first time since 1977 at the next federal election.
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Mr Corboy decisively won a two-way pre-selection battle over Greg Lawrence at Wangaratta Turf Club on Saturday to become the first National Party contender in Indi since 2001.
The 36-year-old father of six has previously stood for party pre-selection in the state seats of Murray Valley in 2009 and Euroa last year, but was edged out by Tim McCurdy and Steph Ryan respectively.
The Border Mail understands Mr Corboy won the secret ballot 50-15.
Mr Corboy was also a Senate candidate at the 2013 election when Liberal Sophie Mirabella lost Indi to Cathy McGowan.
Ms McGowan’s narrow victory over Mrs Mirabella has opened the door for the Nationals to field a candidate in Indi for the first time since the late Don Chambers 14 years ago.
The Coalition agreement binds Mr Corboy and Mrs Mirabella to preference eachother one and two respectively.
But in declaring himself the “fresh face” of the Coalition, Mr Corboy said nothing could be taken for granted on election day.
“We have got plenty of time before the next election,” he said.
“I will campaign my guts out to win the voters’ confidence and return the Coalition to government.
“Individual voters are free to make up their own minds when they go to the ballot box.
“Every party has a percentage of voters who don’t follow their card.”
Ms McGowan attracted the support of some high profile Nationals’ identities including Ken Jasper at the last election she won by less than 500 votes.
Mr Corboy said he hoped to count on the support of Mr Jasper, who was an apology for the pre-selection convention.
Federal Gippsland MP Darren Chester, state deputy leader Ms Ryan and Mr McCurdy were present.
Mr Corboy works in a family-owned stock-feed business in Wangaratta.
