Beleaguered Liberal Chris Jermyn will continue as his party’s candidate for McEwen after a horror week that included a train-wreck interview and the removal of non-conforming campaign signs from his Sunbury office.
Mr Jermyn’s future was discussed by party officials last Thursday night.
They decided any move to withdraw his endorsement would distract from campaigning in one of the nation’s most marginal seats.
Labor MP Rob Mitchell won the 2013 election by only about 300 votes.
Mr Jermyn was firmly in the national media spotlight after he stood outside Sunbury Community Health on May 28 with Corflute signs while Opposition Leader Bill Shorten committed $2 million for a new child health hub.
The Liberal candidate later packed up his ‘listening post’ and stormed off from reporters after being unable to articulate his own party’s Medicare policy.
Then, large signs above his Sunbury campaign office had to be pulled down last week after it was revealed they did not meet Hume council bylaws.
A Sunbury Liberal source, who did not want to be named, said things had been blown out of proportion.
‘‘He’s still attracting quite a positive response out there in the community,’’ the source said.
‘‘We’ve found him to be a great person to work with. The problem is, being such a marginal seat, it’s a big risk for Labor to lose, so they want to make a big deal of it.
“Let’s face it, if you’re standing out there with a corflute sign, it’s not the world’s biggest issue.’’
Mr Jermyn did not comment.
– with The Age
