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Council & Politics

16 January, 2026

Staley seeks Liberal comeback

ARARAT resident and former MP Louise Staley is attempting a political comeback. Ms Staley this week confirmed she is seeking preselection to run as a Liberal candidate for the upper house seat of Western Victoria, with one of the parties two seats to be vacated in November following a decision by sitting MP Joe McCracken to retire. Ms Staley was the member for Ripon from 2014 to 2022 but lost her seat to Labor’s Martha Haylett after the boundaries were redrawn to include large parts of Ballarat. She confirmed to the Advocate her intentions to seek preselection but was unable to comment further due to Liberal Party rules.

By Craig Wilson

Ararat resident Louise Staley is hoping to be selected as the Liberal candidate for Western Victoria marking a return to politics.
Ararat resident Louise Staley is hoping to be selected as the Liberal candidate for Western Victoria marking a return to politics.

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