Vaile vows to lead Stoner crusade into Canberra

MARK VAILE, the former deputy prime minister, will come out of political retirement to help Andrew Stoner get to Canberra if the Deputy Premier decides to move to federal politics.

By InvestSMART · 25 Sep 2011

By InvestSMART ·
25 Sep 2011

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MARK VAILE, the former deputy prime minister, will come out of political retirement to help Andrew Stoner get to Canberra if the Deputy Premier decides to move to federal politics.

Mr Stoner is being urged by National Party colleagues to run against Rob Oakeshott in the federal seat of Lyne at the next election, with the offer to back him in as deputy to Tony Abbott in a Coalition government.

"If Andrew ran, I'd put my hand up to be his campaign director," Mr Vaile told The Sun-Herald yesterday.

It was Mr Vaile's resignation from Parliament that brought on the 2008 Lyne byelection, won by Mr Oakeshott.

Mr Vaile said Mr Stoner would have a "really good shot" at replacing Warren Truss as Nationals leader.

"Andrew, along with a few others, will be the backbone of the NSW government and that experience of working in a coalition would be invaluable to Tony Abbott," he said.

Mr Vaile also took a swipe at Senator Barnaby Joyce - who is looking to move to the lower house, possibly by way of running against the independent Tony Windsor in New England - saying he should "stay in Queensland".

The Premier, Barry O'Farrell, said Mr Stoner would win Lyne if he chose to run. "But I need him here," he said.

Mr Stoner has ruled nothing out. "He is focused on delivering for NSW with Mr O'Farrell but appreciates the need for a strong field in Lyne in order to defeat Rob Oakeshott and the federal Labor government," a spokeswoman said.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

Who is Mark Vaile and what did he offer Andrew Stoner in the article?

Mark Vaile is the former deputy prime minister. The article says he offered to come out of political retirement and put his hand up to be Andrew Stoner's campaign director if Stoner decided to run for the federal seat of Lyne.

What federal move is Andrew Stoner being urged to consider?

National Party colleagues are urging Andrew Stoner to run for the federal seat of Lyne against Rob Oakeshott and to consider moving to Canberra, with the possibility of being backed as deputy to Tony Abbott in a Coalition government.

Why is Rob Oakeshott a central figure in the story about Lyne?

Rob Oakeshott is the independent member for the federal seat of Lyne. The article notes colleagues want Stoner to run against Oakeshott to try to win the seat back for the Coalition.

Did Mark Vaile say Andrew Stoner could become Nationals leader?

Yes. Vaile said Andrew Stoner would have a “really good shot” at replacing Warren Truss as Nationals leader, according to the article.

What did Mark Vaile say about Barnaby Joyce and his possible lower‑house move?

Vaile took a swipe at Senator Barnaby Joyce — who is considering moving to the lower house, perhaps to run against Tony Windsor in New England — saying Joyce should “stay in Queensland.”

What was Premier Barry O’Farrell’s view on Andrew Stoner running for Lyne?

Barry O’Farrell said Mr Stoner would win Lyne if he chose to run, but added that he needs Stoner to remain in New South Wales, indicating he prefers Stoner stay in state government.

Has Andrew Stoner made a firm decision about moving to federal politics?

No. The article says Mr Stoner has ruled nothing out. A spokeswoman said he is focused on delivering for NSW with Mr O’Farrell but appreciates the need for a strong field in Lyne to defeat Rob Oakeshott and the federal Labor government.

What historical context about the Lyne seat does the article provide?

The article notes that Vaile’s resignation from Parliament triggered the 2008 Lyne by‑election, which was won by Rob Oakeshott.