Aaron Brown. Photo: South Gippsland Shire Council By Catherine Watson
LOCAL Liberal powerbroker Alan Brown’s dream of establishing a political dynasty came a step closer to reality this week when his son Aaron Brown was selected as the Liberal Party candidate for the Bass electorate in the November state election.
The last time Aaron sought pre-selection, in 2014, he was unexpectedly knocked off by Brian Paynter, a political outsider who went on to retain the seat for the Liberal Party.
This time he defeated Bass Coast councillor and former police officer Bruce Kent in a pre-selection ballot of local party members.
LOCAL Liberal powerbroker Alan Brown’s dream of establishing a political dynasty came a step closer to reality this week when his son Aaron Brown was selected as the Liberal Party candidate for the Bass electorate in the November state election.
The last time Aaron sought pre-selection, in 2014, he was unexpectedly knocked off by Brian Paynter, a political outsider who went on to retain the seat for the Liberal Party.
This time he defeated Bass Coast councillor and former police officer Bruce Kent in a pre-selection ballot of local party members.
Another high-profile and popular local candidate pulled out of the contest after some spirited lobbying by Brown Senior, the president of the Bass Coast branch of the Liberal Party.
Aaron Brown’s next hurdle is to beat the incumbent MP, Jordan Crugnale, who won the seat of Bass for Labor in 2018.
Aaron Brown’s next hurdle is to beat the incumbent MP, Jordan Crugnale, who won the seat of Bass for Labor in 2018.
Alan Brown. Photo: Victorian Parliament
If he can win in November, he’ll be following in the footsteps of his father, a former Wonthaggi mayor who was the Liberal MP for this area from 1979-1996 (the seat was called Westernport then Gippsland West).
Mr Brown led the Liberal Party in Opposition for two years until he was knocked off by Jeff Kennett in 1991. He served as public transport minister in the Kennett Liberal Government and resigned in 1996 to take up the post of Victorian Agent General in London.
He is now one of the region’s most successful residential and commercial property developers.
In 2012 he attempted a return to local politics when he stood a so-called Reform Team of candidates in the Bass Coast council election. Only two of his candidates were elected, however, not including himself.
There was some compensation in 2016 when Aaron was elected to the South Gippsland Shire Council and another son, Julian, was elected to the Bass Coast Shire Council.
Unfortunately for Aaron, he was part of a highly dysfunctional council that was rent by infighting, allegations of bullying and mass resignations. Aaron became the sixth councillor to resign, shortly before the council was sacked by the State Government in 2019. He did not contest last year’s council election.
Julian saw out his term at Bass Coast Council and contested the 2020 election but was not re-elected.
Mr Brown led the Liberal Party in Opposition for two years until he was knocked off by Jeff Kennett in 1991. He served as public transport minister in the Kennett Liberal Government and resigned in 1996 to take up the post of Victorian Agent General in London.
He is now one of the region’s most successful residential and commercial property developers.
In 2012 he attempted a return to local politics when he stood a so-called Reform Team of candidates in the Bass Coast council election. Only two of his candidates were elected, however, not including himself.
There was some compensation in 2016 when Aaron was elected to the South Gippsland Shire Council and another son, Julian, was elected to the Bass Coast Shire Council.
Unfortunately for Aaron, he was part of a highly dysfunctional council that was rent by infighting, allegations of bullying and mass resignations. Aaron became the sixth councillor to resign, shortly before the council was sacked by the State Government in 2019. He did not contest last year’s council election.
Julian saw out his term at Bass Coast Council and contested the 2020 election but was not re-elected.