It had been suggested to me previously that I stand for pre-selection but I had said no until, that is, I was contacted about Murdoch, which all happened very quickly. Until that approach I had been content with my work at UWA and the DPP.

I guess I will never convince hard core sceptics that I was not any group or faction’s ‘chosen one’ or that my father being a state director some 20 years ago was of anything other than negligible causative effect in preselection.

What I know is I was asked to stand for pre-selection. I did. I won. I made no promises to anyone I never called a delegate all I did was provide my CV to the State Council of the Party and speak to them as they were constituted as the selection committee in the emergency circumstances that existed. That is a body of in excess of 80 people drawn from every Division of the Party. After my presentation I was elected.

It may just be possible that an individual can get approached to stand for preselection on the basis that they have particular skills valuable to Parliamentary service and the Parliamentary Liberal Party and fit a particular need at a particular time. It may be possible that the individual preselectors who decide might agree that the individual is worthwhile preselecting. I have degrees in Economics, Arts with 1st Class Honours in Politics and Law from UWA. I studied my Masters in Political Theory at the London School of Economics on a British Chevening Scholarship and topped my class. I have worked in commercial litigation. As a full time Senior State Prosecutor I successfully conducted many serious criminal trials and appeals in all jurisdictions in this State. Later, and while still part time at the DPP, I was a Senior Lecturer in Criminal Law and Evidence at UWA. Without being immodest I think few candidates at 37 would have that sort of qualification for the position. Many individuals were keen that I stand for preselection but I was no one group or person’s chosen one and I owe no one or other or grouping in the party any favours.

By and large the contributors that have left comment all seem to me to share a real interest in and respect for the democratic process. Having for the first time been inside the process myself it is amazing to observe that of those comments which are good educated guesses about actual behind the events facts and occurrences many are incredibly accurate. But also many comments which, in being speculative, are also a little off the mark.

One overall observation I think that is worth making is that I fear some commentators on the site, like many in the electorate, are at times a little overly cynical.

Particularly, there does seem at times to be this view that pre-selected party candidates, by virtue of having been pre-selected, have attained some long sort after prize which is of utmost value to the candidate themselves. This view tends in turn to fuel a cynicism of the type that manifest itself in some assumption or knowing on the part of the observer that somehow the candidate must have attained the prize at some significant costs to their integrity. That the ascendency (if that’s what it is) is due to some nepotism or some other form of skulduggery or deal doing that damages and taints the candidate. No doubt this is sometimes true in the reality of party preselection but not always and I would like to think untrue in my own case and in the case of many people on both sides of politics including some I know well.

Yes my grandfather was a Liberal Minister in Queensland and by all accounts a good Minister and an honest man. Yes my father was a State Director in WA of the Liberal Party. But I can assure you that neither of these factors led me somehow to being gifted pre-selection. In my Grandfather’s case he started the Liberal Party in Queensland but as I understand it no-one from the Party turned up to his funeral and he seems, sadly, to be largely a forgotten figure amongst the present Queensland Division of the Party (and is not at all known in WA). In my Fathers’ case I understand he was a hard nosed political operator but one who was very much governed by the rules of the party and that he had a reputation for getting things done and being able to effectively organise campaigns with minimal resources. Being a State Director is often viewed in the Liberal Party as something of a position for the second-class citizen. It is hard work and no matter how fair you try to be you create just as many enemies as friends as ultimately one group or other within the party feels badly done by this or that administrative decision. Chilla now is retired and a Party member but hardly active. As to the fact that many in the Party remember his Directorship and whether this is a help or hindrance to preselection in an overall sense, well the answer is anyone’s guess but probably it is both help and hindrance. As to those who have speculated as to a connection between my preselection and Noel Richton-Brown as I understand the political history of it in 1992/93 (well before I really took much interest in internal party matters) Chilla along with the then President David Honey were the prime movers in Noel’s expulsion. My Father’s view as I understand it was that notwithstanding that he had worked closely and effectively with Noel in several election campaigns over the years, That his behaviour had become unacceptable and terribly damaging to the Liberal brand which my Father and others had worked so hard to build and so he had to be expelled – they have not spoken a word since. For my part I wouldn’t know the bloke if I bumped into him in the street.

In fact I can say hand on heart I owe no person or group any favours in being pre-selected. The party came to me in an unusual situation and leaving my legal career when it was really where I wanted it to be and departing from wonderful jobs at the UWA and the DPP was agonisingly difficult. I had always thought that there may come a time when I felt that entering public office was the right thing to do but never viewed it as a prize to be obtained and treasured. I don’t much care if it sounds corny but representing electors I have always considered to be a great responsibility. What was put to me by several people in the Liberal Party was that if I believe in liberal principles and believe that effective opposition makes for better government and I did not stand now when would I. This view resonated with me and so I stood. Rather than being cock-a-hoop at getting something I always wanted I am really quite daunted by the task ahead – this ALP government with its massive surplus will be a very difficult one to keep in check. For me the decision means relocating and whilst I make no criticism of those who do not, for one reason or another, choose to live within their electorate it is critical for me to be a part of the community I will represent. And while I grew up north of the river I did so in suburbs just like the ones I will now settle in south of the river and just by campaigning in those suburbs and getting a feel for them I know they will be a fantastic place to live.

So to all of you who bother to comment on our wonderful democratic system (even in its in more mundane by-electoral manifestations) good on you. I look forward to reading more of your stuff. To my old school colleague I think I was perhaps a little better than a decent student (but hey). To my old honours colleague I agree I got carried away with the debating (that made me laugh – but I am much less enthusiastic now).

Regards to all from Christian Porter – Member for Murdoch

Good local candidates are getting shafted left, right and centre (excuse the factional pun) by the Premiers so-called “wet-dream team”!!

Apparently you’d make a great member of Parliament for the ALP if you meet the following criteria;

1. Your not a member of the ALP,
2. Your a lobbyist or a lawyer,
3. You have no connection with the community you wish to represent

I dare say thats a story worth looking into.