‘Voters don’t want a culture war’: Victorian Liberals raise concerns over preselections

Candidates include Evan Mulholland from the Institute of Public Affairs and Moira Deeming, who called for abortion laws to be repealed

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Several Victorian Liberal MPs have raised concerns the preselection of candidates at the weekend could undermine efforts to present as a more progressive party ahead of the November state election.

Evan Mulholland, from the right-leaning Institute of Public Affairs, was preselected on Sunday for the upper house Northern Metropolitan Region seat, replacing Craig Ondarchie. This came after Melton city councillor Moira Deeming was endorsed for selection for the Western Metropolitan Region, for the upper house Western Metropolitan Region.