SAS veteran-turned-Survivor winner Mark Wales has announced he will no longer contest the must-win local seat of Tangney in order to support his family through a health crisis.
Liberal candidate Mr Wales, of Bicton, won the preselection with a clear majority in the key battleground seat early in April, beating out IT consultant Howard Ong and litigation lawyer Sean Ayres.
But in a statement, he said a close family member had recently suffered a “serious medical episode” and was in intensive care in Melbourne.
“When I spoke to Liberal Party members in Tangney during my preselection in April, I assured them that I share their fundamental values. Specifically, I said I was ‘all in’ for family,” Mr Wales said.
“My family means everything to me – so my first priority is to be with them and provide all the support they need during this incredibly difficult time.
“This means I am not able to devote all my time and energy to being on the ground and campaigning locally in Tangney.”
He said by stepping aside now, he would give the Liberal Party more time to pre-select a candidate for the seat.
The party’s State Council will hold a special meeting to decide on the process of replacing him.
It’s understood many of the candidates who contested pre-selection are still weighing up whether they would put their hands up again
