Registered nurse Katherine McBride will contest the Liberal Party Barker pre-selection, challenging sitting Liberal Tony Pasin.

Ms McBride is the wife of Liberal State Member for MacKillop Nick McBride and they live at Conmurra Station, between Millicent and Kingston.

“I have submitted my nomination today,” Ms McBride told The SE Voice yesterday.

“I do however see this as an internal matter for our party and wish to be respectful of the process.

“As such, I will be making no further comment until the pre-selection concludes.”

Ms McBride unsuccessfully contested the position of Liberal Party Barker Federal Electoral College chairperson in 2022.

Her possible candidacy for Barker was mentioned by veteran commentator Michael Smithson in the capital city media on Friday.

Meanwhile State Transport Minister and Labor MP Tom Koutsantonis said he had heard there would be a Liberal Party challenger to Mr Pasin who is acceptable to both the conservative and moderate wings of the Liberal Party.

The closing date for nominations was 5pm yesterday (Monday) and they had to be lodged at the Liberal Party headquarters in Adelaide.

The final number of candidates was not known at press time.

First elected in 2013, Mr Pasin has told The SE Voice he will be seeking Liberal Party pre-selection for a fifth term in office.

The next Federal election is due to be held in 2025.

Known as a conservative and strong supporter of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Mr Pasin was elevated to the Outer Shadow Ministry in 2022 as Shadow Assistant Transport and Infrastructure Minister.

There have been two successful Liberal Party pre-selection challengers in Barker within the past 34 years.

Ian McLachlan was preferred to James Porter in 1989 while Mr Pasin defeated Patrick Secker in 2013.

The McBride candidacy has been welcomed by Mr Secker.

“The best time for change is when the Liberal Party is in Opposition, as it is now,” Mr Secker said.

“Katherine will make a great Member for Barker.”

Mr Pasin has never before been challenged for pre-selection and declined to comment on the matter.

“It is a long-standing Liberal Party convention for members to refrain from making public comment regarding preselections as they are internal party matters,” Mr Pasin said.

“I intend to respect that convention.

“All preselection matters are being managed by the State Executive and as such any enquiries should be directed to the President of the South Australian Division.”

Liberal Party State president Rowan Mumford has explained why pre-selection for the local seat of Barker is taking place more than two years away from the next anticipated poll.

“The Review of the 2022 Federal Election found that timing of pre-selections is a critical success factor and that’s why we’re not wasting any time confirming candidates for the next Federal election,” Mr Mumford said.

“Given a Federal Election could be held as soon as August next year, the State Executive has resolved to open nominations at this early stage to ensure we are best placed as a team to take the fight to the Albanese Government.

“Nominations for pre-selection in other seats will follow in the coming months.”