维多利亚州自由党宣布由副市长罗什娜·坎贝尔（Roshena Campbell）取代前议员莫伊拉·迪明（Moira Deeming），参选西部大都会区上议院席位[1]。坎贝尔通过州执委会投票以12票对7票的结果获得该地区候选人名单首位[1]，这一结果几乎确保了她在11月州选举中赢得议席[1]。
然而这一任命在当地引发强烈反弹。坎贝尔的住所位于选区外的内城区布伦瑞克，引发社区批评她与该地区缺乏真实联系[1]。前自由党成员玛丽亚·科尔（Maria Kerr）将这一任命称为"对西区居民的侮辱"[1]。同时，现任议员特龙·卢（Trung Luu）被挤至名单第二位[1]，面临在州选举中丧失席位的风险[1]。
迪明此前因对领导人马修·盖伊的未经证实的指控而被撤销候选人资格[1]，随后离开自由党[1]。
Victoria's Liberal Party has announced Melbourne deputy mayor Roshena Campbell as the replacement candidate for the western metropolitan region's upper house seat, displacing former MP Moira Deeming.[1] Campbell secured the top position on the party's candidate list through a state executive committee vote of 12-7, effectively ensuring her election to the seat in the November state election.[1]
The appointment has sparked considerable backlash from the local community, primarily due to Campbell's residence in Brunswick, located outside the electoral district.[1] Critics argue the move demonstrates a lack of genuine connection to the region, with former Liberal Party member Maria Kerr describing the appointment as "a slap in the face" to residents of the western suburbs.[1] The decision has also affected sitting MP Trung Luu, who has been pushed to second position on the candidate list and now faces the prospect of losing his seat in the upcoming election.[1]
The change follows Moira Deeming's removal as a candidate last month following unsubstantiated allegations against Liberal leader Matthew Guy, after which she subsequently left the party.[1]