Nick Tyrrell, a small business owner and president of the Canberra Liberals, has won the party's preselection to contest the next federal election for an ACT Senate seat. The party confirmed his victory in a media statement on Saturday, following a vote of 143 to 34 against rival candidate Hayune Lee.
Mr Tyrrell said he would focus on housing affordability, childcare choice, and reducing national debt. 'I'm fighting for practical reform: tackling housing affordability, giving families genuine childcare choice, and ensuring the national capital gets the attention and investment it deserves,' he said.
Mr Tyrrell previously worked for former NSW Liberal politicians Barry O'Farrell, Pru Goward, and Gladys Berejiklian, and moved to Canberra in 2015. He founded electric picnic boat hire firm GoBoat and was elected president of the Canberra Liberals in February 2024.
Ms Lee, who ran as the party's second Senate candidate in 2025, described herself as a young female migrant and proud public servant. She said she was born in South Korea and moved to Australia at age 17 in 2007.
Liberal candidates for the ACT Senate ticket are now required to sign a performance contract, including a commitment to raise $250,000, to avoid a repeat of the party's poor 2025 campaign. The contract allows the party to dump candidates who fail to meet fundraising targets.
