Politics & Council
22 December, 2025
One-time radio ‘star’ wants to shine the Liberal torch
ANDREW Kilmartin will make his second tilt to be elected to State Parliament when he challenges Ripon MP Martha Haylett in next November’s election.
The former Ballarat radio journalist gained Liberal pre-selection from the party’s state executive on Sunday.
An earlier pre-selection convention of electorate delegates was aborted when the required number did not attend.
Mr Kilmartin was the party’s candidate for the seat of Buninyong at the 2018 state election.
The Nationals are expected to announce their candidate early in the new year with former Ararat mayor Jo Armstrong tipped to get the nod.
Ms Haylett defeated Louise Staley at the 2022 poll and currently holds the seat by 2.8 per cent for Labor.
The seat includes outer suburbs of Ballarat, Creswick, Ararat, St Arnaud, Maryborough and Loddon’s southern communities.
Political commentators have said Ripon is a “must watch” seat as Premier Jacinta Allan aims for a historic fourth Labor victory.