Kevin Andrews’ defeat: a setback for ScoMo at the start of the parliamentary year

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has received an unwanted spanner in the works ahead of Tuesday’s return of parliament with barrister Keith Wolahan’s win this afternoon in the preselection for the safe Victorian seat of Menzies.

Wolahan, a Cambridge graduate who saw service with the ADF in Afghanistan as a special forces officer, defeated Kevin Andrews, who has held the seat since replacing our very own Neil Brown in a by-election back in May 1991.

His win has huge significance within the Victorian Liberals. It is the first time since a young and thrusting Peter Costello and David Kemp challenged sitting wets back in 1990 that federal incumbents from the state have lost their seats at preselections. It has potential to…