Barrister Lana Collaris has emerged as one of four candidates contesting Liberal preselection for the blue-ribbon seat of Malvern, joining a field backed by some of the party’s biggest names ahead of next year’s state election.
Collaris, who has built a career in law and is the daughter of migrants from Greece and Ukraine, has received the endorsement of former chief crown prosecutor Gavin Silbert, who described her as a natural leader marked by “dedication and optimism.”
She will face Amelia Hamer, Jacquie Blackwell, and Xavier Boffa in the November 23 ballot to replace outgoing MP Michael O’Brien, the former opposition leader stepping down after nearly two decades.
While the contest is expected to centre on Hamer and Blackwell, supported by Jeff Kennett, Jane Hume, and Josh Frydenberg respectively, Collaris’ entry adds further depth to the race as the Victorian Liberal Party grapples with internal divisions and ongoing court disputes.
Senior sources say the vote is tightening, with each candidate drawing backing from distinct party factions as the Liberals seek renewal ahead of the next election.
Source: The Australian.
