Rob Stokes backs Northern Beaches deputy mayor to replace Rory Amon

Former NSW Coalition minister Rob Stokes has ruled out a return to his old seat of Pittwater and thrown his support behind outgoing Northern Beaches deputy mayor Georgia Ryburn to replace state MP Rory Amon,who abruptly resigned after he was charged with child sex offences last week.

Amon,35,was elected as Pittwater MP last year,buthe quit parliament on Friday hours after police charged him with offences including five counts of having sexual intercourse in 2017 with a child between the ages of 10 and 14. Amon has denied wrongdoing and will fight the allegations.

Amon sought to evade media on Sunday evening when he attended Dee Why Police Station,where his bail conditions require him to report weekly. He visited the station about 7.40pm and departed via an awaiting car.

Senior Liberal Party members had urged Stokes,who was Pittwater MP from 2007 until 2023,to nominate for his one-time seat. However,when contacted on Sunday,Stokes told theHerald he hoped Ryburn would put her hand up for pre-selection,vowing he would “back her every step of the way” if she did so.

“I have always felt that Georgia Ryburn has the capacity,cleverness and compassion to make an outstanding MP,” Stokes said.

“When I decided to leave parliament,she was the first person I reached out to and encouraged to consider nominating.”

Ryburn did not respond to requests for comment.

Amon’s departure from the blue-ribbon seat extends the Liberals’ horror run in Sydney’s northern suburbs,where last month’snominations debacle meant the party failed to nominate a single candidate to run for the Northern Beaches Council on September 14.

The botched processthwarted Ryburn’s bid for the mayoralty and left her burgeoning political career in tatters,prompting senior Liberals to woo her to run for the federal seat of Mackellar against incumbent teal independent Sophie Scamps in next year’s poll.

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The day after it emerged the Liberals failed to nominate scores of council candidates,Ryburn said she was “shocked,gutted,in disbelief”. She has not commented on a potential tilt at federal politics.

Stokes had lobbied members of the Liberal Party’s state executive to not back Amon,whose Liberal Party pre-selection for Pittwater was highly controversial,and had wanted a woman to replace him.

On Sunday,Stokes said of his support for Ryburn:“Yes,she’s a woman,but it’s not because she’s a woman,it’s because she’s a talented,capable person. She’s northern beaches through and through.”

Stokes,however,said he would encourage many people to put up their hand for pre-selection.

The Liberal Party opened nominations on Saturday for a byelection in the seat,which is likely to be scheduled alongside byelections in Epping and Hornsby on October 19.

Amon beat independent candidate Jacqui Scruby by 606 votes to win the seat of Pittwater,despite a 22 per cent swing away from the Liberals.

In a statement on Sunday,Scruby said the community was shocked by the “confronting” news of Amon’s arrest. “I am taking time this week to hear from the community about what leadership and representation the people of Pittwater want,” she said.

If you or anyone you know needs help,call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (and seelifeline.org.au),theNational Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service (1800RESPECT) on 1800 737 732,or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.