Hodgkinson pulls out of race for Whitlam to 'keep focus on main game'

David Littleproud and Katrina Hodgkinson in February when her candidature for Whitlam was announced. Today (3 April) she has pulled out of the race. Photo: Supplied.

Katrina Hodgkinson has announced she will not run as a candidate for the seat of Whitlam in the 3 May federal election.

Nationals leader David Littleproud visited the electorate in mid-February to announce the former NSW minister would stand in the seat held by Stephen Jones since 2010. Mr Jones is retiring at the election.

The decision to put Ms Hodgkinson forward as a candidate created a three-cornered contest with Coalition partner, the Liberal Party’s Ben Britton and the ALP’s candidate, well-known community leader Carol Berry.

At the time, Ms Hodgkinson said the Nationals were taking the electorate very seriously. “We will fight with all we have, to bring strong and effective representation to this very important part of the Illawarra,” she said.

However, with the election a month away, she announced today (3 April) she would step aside as a candidate “in order to keep the focus on the main game and that is to win government for the Coalition”.

“In February, the Nationals asked me to nominate for the seat of Whitlam,” she said.

“At that time, it was the last thing on my mind as I was engaged in a variety of other roles.

“However, the hardship that families and small businesses in our region are experiencing with the ever-spiralling cost of living, and the way the Albanese Government is running roughshod over widespread local opposition to the proposed Illawarra offshore wind farm, I agreed to put my name forward and do whatever I could to help fight for the people of Whitlam.

“Since then, it has become clear that the campaign for Whitlam will be between the Labor and Liberal parties, and I want to do everything I can to help enable a change of this seat and the whole of government to the Coalition.

“Following discussions yesterday, the Nationals are fully supportive of my decision to not lodge a nomination with the AEC for the upcoming election.”