{
  "id": 14115637,
  "title": "Liberal candidate for marginal seat dumped weeks out from election",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/liberal-candidate-for-marginal-seat-dumped-weeks-out-from-election",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T04:13:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-13/croydon-liberal-candidate-grant-hutchinson-replaced/107260434"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Victorian opposition has replaced its candidate for a marginal seat in Melbourne's east. Opposition leader Jess Wilson announced Grant Hutchinson was disendorsed due to new information about a civil case he is involved in. Toby Wooldridge, son of former federal Liberal minister Michael Wooldridge, will now represent the Liberal Party in the upcoming November 28 poll. Opposition leader Jess Wilson reaffirmed the Liberal Party's rigorous vetting processes following the disendorsement of another candidate, Grant Hutchinson, just seven weeks before the Victorian election. Hutchinson was removed as the candidate for Croydon on Monday, citing litigation he is involved in, despite the lawsuit being publicly known since last year. When questioned on Tuesday, Ms. Wilson stated that further details about the lawsuit brought by Mr. Hutchinson against his own law firm had come to the party's attention, deeming it no longer appropriate for him to be a candidate. She expressed confidence in the party's vetting process, emphasizing that new information had come to light. Hutchinson was replaced by Toby Wooldridge, the son and nephew of former federal and state Liberal ministers, respectively. Despite some Liberal members being taken aback by the party's decision, Wilson assured that the party had stringent vetting procedures in place. Croydon, currently held by a Liberal MP by just 1.4%, is expected to see an extension of the party's lead in the upcoming election. Long-serving incumbent David Hodgett, who has served for 20 years, is retiring, allowing the Liberal Party to potentially strengthen its position in the electorate.",
  "summary": "Opposition leader Jess Wilson says the party replaced Grant Hutchinson, its candidate for the east Melbourne seat of Croydon, after new information emerged about civil legal action he is involved in.",
  "key_points": [
    "Liberal candidate Grant Hutchinson disendorsed from Croydon seat",
    "New information about civil case led to disendorsement",
    "Toby Wooldridge replaces Hutchinson for November 28 poll"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Replacing a candidate so close to the election highlights the tension between maintaining rigorous vetting standards and the practical risks of political instability in a highly competitive marginal seat.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}