CORANGAMITE MP Sarah Henderson has refused to reveal who she supported in the federal coalition’s leadership spill.
The first-term Liberal released a statement today congratulating new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and paying “tribute” to former leader Tony Abbott without saying who won her vote in the 54-44 result.
The Independent sought an answer but her office responded that Ms Henderson would not disclose her vote because of the “secret ballot process”.
Ms Henderson’s statement said the past 24 hours had been a “very difficult and emotional time for the Liberal party”.
“I wish to congratulate Malcolm, along with Julie Bishop who was re-elected as deputy leader of the Liberal party.
“I wish to pay tribute to Tony Abbott’s service to our country as Prime Minister and to the people of Corangamite.
Ms Henderson went on to list the Coalition Government’s achievements under Mr Abbott, including the abolition of the carbon and mining taxes, free trade agreements with Japan, South Korea and China, the lowest company tax rate for small business in almost 50 years and record infrastructure funding.
Ms Henderson said Corangamite had benefitted from “many important investments” including funding for roads and jobs.
“Now is the time to quickly reunite and regroup behind the new Prime Minister as we continue to govern in the national interest for the benefit of all Australians,” she said.
Ms Henderson holds Corangamite with a margin of less than four per cent.
Unions have been targetting the seat with campaigns against the Government’s China free-trade agreement and proposed university fee deregulation.
