Liberal candidate for marginal seat dumped weeks out from election

Grant Hutchinson was disendorsed as the Liberal candidate for Croydon on Monday night, according to ABC News — Just In. The Victorian opposition has replaced its candidate for a marginal seat in Melbourne's east.

Opposition leader Jess Wilson stated that Grant Hutchinson was disendorsed after new information came to light about a civil case he is involved in. Toby Wooldridge will now stand as the candidate for Croydon in the November 28 poll.

The Liberal Party cited litigation Mr Hutchinson is involved in as the reason for his disendorsement, despite the lawsuit being public knowledge since last year. Asked about the decision on Tuesday, Ms Wilson said further details about the lawsuit Mr Hutchinson brought against his own law firm had come to the party's attention.

Ms Wilson stated, "It's no longer appropriate for him to be a candidate," and expressed confidence in the party's vetting process, saying, "Yes." "As I said … new information has come to light."

Grant Hutchinson is staunchly from the party's religious right and his endorsement last year astounded some Liberal members. He was replaced by Toby Wooldridge, the son of former federal Liberal minister Michael Wooldridge and nephew of former MP Mary Wooldridge.