Dear Beagle Editor.
Your piece on local political possibilities contained a reference to Fiona Kotvojs being possibly ‘rolled out’ by the Liberal Party.
This is at best dismissive of a very accomplished woman.
Dr. Kotvojs chose to seek preselection for the 2019 federal election due to the realisation that the qualifications, extensive and diverse career experience, and multiple skills which she had acquired in life could be put to the best possible use in serving her community from a parliamentary seat.
From a cold start in Eden-Monaro she almost defeated Mike Kelly and, when he retired, came even closer to winning the subsequent bye-election, only Labor’s Donkey Vote bridging the difference.
On the retirement of Andrew Constance she sought the Bega state seat as being where the most influence for her community could be found.
Why voters preferred candidates who had fewer qualifications, far more narrow career experience and very little, and in the case of Kristy McBain, no evidence whatsoever, of the service in voluntary organisations which Fiona has been engaged in all her life, is a mystery known only to them.
So she has returned to her role in the evaluation of international governance programmes in which she is a world authority, plus the continued running of two small businesses and the family farm.
She continues her involvement in the development of the Gourmet Coast trail, to promote year-round tourism along our coast, and she is working with people of widely differing political and lifestyle perspectives to explore ways of combatting the polarisation of society and to seek the centre ground where solutions are always to be found.
If she again seeks election, this will be of her choosing. She will not be ‘rolled out’ by anyone. If not, then the absence of her impressive skills in parliament is a far greater loss for all of us than it is for her.
Alan Burdon
President, Narooma Liberals
Labor's Michael Holland was declared elected at 11:28am on Wednesday, 2 March 2022
