Fed: Nats to contest Macfarlane seat

AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2001
Fed: Nats to contest Macfarlane seat

BRISBANE, Aug 27 AAP - The National Party would stand a candidate against Liberal Ian
Macfarlane in his federal seat of Groom but not because of the current row over the alleged
GST scam, Queensland leader Mike Horan said today.

Mr Macfarlane has been embroiled in a political row over the Groom branch's claim for
a GST tax credit it was not entitled to.

The matter has forced Prime Minister John Howard to order a full GST tax audit of the
Queensland Liberals.

Mr Horan said today: "The decision to stand a candidate in Groom was made long before
the current issue arose.

"We had strong representation from grassroots members to field a candidate."

Mr Horan said Barbara Wuersching, a Catholic secondary school teacher, was an outstanding
candidate and well-known in the Groom electorate which takes in much of the Darling Downs.

He said standing a National against Mr Macfarlane would maximise the conservative vote
in Groom in the coming federal election, and would help the Nationals' Senate chances.

The party's Senate leader Ron Boswell is under threat from Pauline Hanson, who will
stand as a One Nation Senate candidate in a bid to re-enter federal politics.

Mr Horan said news reports that the Nationals would oppose up to six sitting Liberals
in Queensland federal seats were wrong.

"We will stand a candidate in Moncrieff on the Gold Coast where the sitting Liberal
Kathy Sullivan is retiring," Mr Horan said.

AAP geb/sc/vr/br

KEYWORD: GROOM HORAN

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