featured-image

NSW Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes has been booted from a winnable spot on the party’s Senate ticket at the next election after losing a preselection battle to new conservative candidate Jessica Collins. The result comes as a blow for Hughes, from the party’s centre-right, who was recently appointed the Coalition’s assistant shadow minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and mental health. She joined the Senate in 2019 after seeking preselection for several years.

Hollie Hughes has been turfed from a winnable spot on the Liberals’ NSW Senate ticket at the next election. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen But Saturday’s preselection, held in Sydney to determine the NSW Senate ticket for the next election, was a victory for Liberal assistant housing spokesman Andrew Bragg, who is aligned with the party’s moderate faction and took the top spot. Collins is aligned with conservative forces in the NSW Liberal Party, including shadow treasurer Angus Taylor.



She had previously been defeated in preselection battles for the seat of North Sydney as well as the casual vacancy created by the retirement of former foreign minister Marise Payne, which went to Dave Sharma. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is also from the conservative faction. Collins is a research fellow at the Lowy Institute think-tank, working on its Pacific Islands program.

Her candidate brochure featured written endorsements from Taylor as well as former treasurer and ex-ambassador to the United States Joe .

Back to Fashion Page