Big name considering political comeback

Josh Frydenberg, the of the biggest losers of the 2022 federal election is reportedly considering a comeback to Canberra.

The former treasurer in the Morrison government lost the blue ribbon Liberal seat of Kooyong in Melbourne to teal independent Monique Ryan.

But following the announcement of the proposed redrawing of boundaries that pushes more Liberal voters into Kooyong, reports are emerging that he is considering a comeback.

The Liberal Party has already preselected candidate Amelia Hamer, 31, for Kooyong after Mr Frydenberg opted not to contest the preselection for the seat earlier this year.

The Australian on Sunday quoted sources saying Mr Frydenberg he “had not ruled anything in or out” but was waiting for the final decision on redistribution determination.

Dr Ryan snatched Mr Frydenberg’s leafy Melbourne seat with 52.9 per cent following preferences, part of a “Teal wave” that ousted a number of Liberals from affluent metropolitan electorates.

Mr Frydenberg, once tipped as a potential opposition leader to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and a future prime minister, is now chair of the Australian division of global investment bank Goldman Sachs.

He most recently produced a documentary on the rise in anti-Semitism for Sky Australia.

Mr Frydenberg said last year his decision not to recontest Kooyong was “a difficult decision and one I have been weighing up for some time.”

“It was an enormous privilege to serve our local community for nearly 12 years and be the Liberal Party’s candidate at the last five federal elections,” he said last September.

The renewed speculation over Mr Frydenberg’s future follows the announcement on Friday that the AEC had recommended the neighbouring seat of Higgins be abolished. – a formerly safe Liberal seat won by Labor in 2022.

AEC Commissioner Tom Rogers said the changes in Victoria were required to enable a decrease from 39 to 38 electoral divisions because of a drop in the state’s population.

Under the plan, voters in Higgins which covers the suburbs of Armadale, Kooyong, Malvern, Prahran and Toorak, will be redistributed to the neighbouring electorates of Chisholm, Hotham, Kooyong, Macnamara and Melbourne.

Labor holds Chisholm, Hotham and Macnamara, while Greens leader Adam Bandt represents Melbourne.

Katie Allen, who was picked for Liberal preselection in November to run for Higgins after her 2022 loss, said it was a “curious decision” by the AEC but she would continue to “work hard and listen to voters.”

“Politics is brutal, but it’s beautiful,” she told Sky News.

“I’m putting myself forward to be a strong voice for Higgins.”