Former Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson has thrown her hand up for a soon-to-be-vacated senate position after narrowly losing her marginal seat.
Ms Henderson on Monday announced her intention to return to Canberra in the upper house of Federal Parliament.
She hopes to replace Victorian senator Mitch Fifield, who will become Australia’s ambassador to the United Nations following an announcement by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
“I announce today my intention to seek Liberal Party endorsement for the senate casual vacancy,” she said.
“If successful, I would seek to base myself in the Geelong region.”
Mr Morrison announced over the weekend he would recommend Senator Fifield to Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove for the position.
Ms Henderson appears likely to replace Senator Fifield but would still need to win Liberal Party preselection for the position.
“I believe I have much to offer the people of Victoria as a Victorian Liberal senator,” she said.
“Regional Victoria, with its diverse industries, agricultural produce and unique environment, is so important to the prosperity of our state.”
Ms Henderson’s decision to base herself in Geelong, if successful, would allow her to oversee about $4 billion in coalition election commitments to the area.
Mr Morrison also announced he would recommend NSW senator Arthur Sinodinos as Australia’s next ambassador to the US, replacing Joe Hockey when his term ends.
The 2019 Federal Election saw the re-election of half the senate.
Senator Sinodinos and Senator Fifield were continuing senators, meaning they did not stand for re-election and that the Liberal Party can choose replacements for them both.
Ms Henderson congratulated her “friend and colleague” Senator Fifield for his service to Victoria, Australia and the Liberal Party.
He will remain in the senate until Federal Government fixes a date for his ambassadorial appointment.
Ms Henderson had held the marginal seat of Corangamite since 2013 before losing it to Labor challenger Libby Coker in the 2019 Federal Election.
Ms Henderson won the seat against Ms Coker by a three per cent margin in 2016.
But a redistribution in 2018 made Corangamite notionally Labor and Ms Henderson conceded the seat to Ms Coker last week.
Ms Coker held a margin of about one per cent with more than 86 per cent of the vote counted on Monday.
