SOPHIE Mirabella has officially started her battle to re-enter Parliament.
The former member for Indi confirmed yesterday she would be contesting preselection for the former safe Liberal seat she previously held for 12 years.
Her defeat at the 2013 poll to Voice For Indi candidate Cathy McGowan was one of the biggest shocks of the election, comfortably won by the Coalition. After months of speculation she would attempt a return to Parliament, Mrs Mirabella yesterday issued a brief statement confirming her decision to seek preselection.
"Having spoken to Liberal Party members and other locals, I confirm I will be nominating for the Liberal preselection in Indi," she said.
"Under party rules, I will not be making any further public comment until this process has concluded."
The Liberals opened preselection late last week and prospective candidates have until May 22 to nominate.
The successful candidate will be announced in late June and all party members in Indi are entitled to vote for their preferred representative. Mrs Mirabella's decision to enter the preselection battle follows a local branch fundraiser at her home attended by Social Services Minister Scott Morrison.
One of her challengers is expected to be Wodonga-based Kevin Ekendahl, who refused to rule out a crack at being the Liberal candidate when approached by The Border Mail earlier this year.
He has stood for the Liberals in the safe Labor seat of Melbourne Ports at the last two federal elections.
Labor has already selected Wodonga councillor Eric Kerr as its candidate in Indi and the National Party has indi-cated it will field a candidate.
Current senator Bridget McKenzie and current Indigo Shire mayor Bernard Gaffney haven't ruled out a shot at Nationals pre-selection in Indi.
Mrs Mirabella previously won preselection to replace Lou Lieberman in Indi in 2001.
Mrs Mirabella was the shadow industry minister during the 2013 election campaign.
Soon after her election defeat, Mrs Mirabella was appointed to the government-owned naval shipbuilding firm ASC Pty Ltd.
At the recent fundraiser, Mrs Mirabella dubbed Mr Morrison the "next conservative prime minister of Australia".
"I miss Sophie and Sophie's representation has been something really lacking in Parliament," Mr Morrison told The Border Mail at the time.
"Cathy [McGowan] is a nice person, she is well regarded and she is professional to deal with. There is nothing personal about any of this. When we lost Sophie we lost someone with enormous talent and experience; she was another very strong female voice in our team.
"I thought she [Sophie] brought a really important perspective and I'd love to see that perspective back."
