Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is says he's disappointed longtime ACT Liberal senator Gary Humphries has missed out on preselection but respects the choice of the ACT party.
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Former ACT opposition leader Zed Seselja has been confirmed as the lead ACT Liberal Senate candidate for the federal election, declaring an end to the rancorous preselection row which convulsed the local Liberal organisation for weeks.
Mr Abbott told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday he was disappointed but respected the right of the party to make the decision.
He said Senator Humphries had been a "fine" senator and chief minister of the ACT.
Mr Seselja had been a very good opposition leader in the territory, Mr Abbott said.
"I think that gives him the necessary experience and the qualities to be a fine senator for the ACT in the years ahead," Mr Abbott said.
Mr Seselja, who stood aside as ACT opposition leader when he announced his preselection challenge to Senator Humphries, will remain a member of the ACT legislative assembly until the election campaign.
Mr Seselja was initially chosen as the ACT Liberals' lead candidate last month.
But some Liberals said they had been denied a say and the matter was reconsidered at a special divisional council meeting on Wednesday night.
His preselection was reconfirmed, virtually assuring him a Senate seat which ends the 10-year term of Senator Humphries.
Australian Greens leader Christine Milne is talking up her party's chances of wrestling an ACT Senate spot from the Liberals.
"Zed Seselja will be trying to defend a cut of 20,000 public servants in the ACT, the home of the public service, and he'll also be having to explain why he supports Tony Abbott moving the CSIRO to Karratha," Senator Milne told reporters in Sydney.
"Simon Sheikh, who is an outstanding candidate for the Greens, has a really good chance."
AAP
