Julian Fidge has called on the Liberal Party to abandon its Coalition agreement with the Nationals when it comes to the Ovens Valley, if incumbent Tim McCurdy is not disendorsed.
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Mr McCurdy has held the seat since 2010, but was this week committed in court to stand trial over 10 charges related to alleged real estate fraud from 2009.
He has maintained his innocence and said he plans to plead not guilty when a trial is held next year.
Australian Country Party candidate Dr Fidge said Mr McCurdy should not be running in November’s state election.
“I think the committal hearing proved that there is a case to answer and that is the tipping point,” he said.
“The National Party can’t have him as a candidate because the outcome is unknown.”
Mr McCurdy has been accused of using letterheads from another real estate agent’s company to facilitate the sale of two Katamatite dairy farms and earn $375,000 in commissions.
Dr Fidge said Mr McCurdy should stand down immediately, but raised the possibility it could still happen closer to the election.
“I assume that what the National Party is doing is playing funny buggers with their Coalition mate,” he said.
Under an agreement, the Liberals cannot run a candidate against a sitting National member, but if Mr McCurdy stood down, both parties could vie for the seat.
Dr Fidge suggested the Nationals could wait until the last minute to make the call, to ensure the Liberals did not have a candidate waiting.
In a statement after the court hearing, the National Party stood by Mr McCurdy.
“He is entitled to the presumption of innocence and a fair trial when that time comes,” it stated.
“Tim will continue to work hard delivering for the people of the Ovens Valley electorate while this matter is resolved.”
Dr Fidge said the Liberal Party should refuse to honour the agreement and announce its own candidate.
Independent candidate Tammy Atkins, who was formerly a member of the National Party, said she would not comment on Mr McCurdy’s legal situation.
She and Dr Fidge also have a combative history, as both were members of the Wangaratta Council sacked in 2013.
Dr Fidge was reprimanded for 14 misconduct breaches over his behaviour while on the council, but said he does not accept the decision of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and still claims Ms Atkins was a “destructive force” who made hundreds of complaints about him.
“The concern is that Tammy is female and she will gain a lot of the female-based votes,” he told The Border Mail.
“I understand it’s popular to blame me, I’m male and it’s easier to blame men as the destructive ones.”
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