NSW Liberals send SOS to Gladys Berejiklian in bid to save at-risk seats

Senior Liberals have sent out an SOS to former premier Gladys Berejiklian ahead of the federal election while Scott Morrison has been urged to stay away.

Senior Liberals have sent out an SOS to Gladys Berejiklian, calling on the former premier to help save key seats in NSW in the upcoming federal election.

Local campaign teams in electorates at risk of falling to progressive independents are also pleading for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to stay away, with Liberals labelling the PM “toxic” to the government’s chances.

Liberals say internal party polling shows Ms Berejiklian is more popular than she was even at the height of her time as Premier. That’s despite the former Premier being the subject of an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation which is yet to report findings.

NSW Liberals want Gladys Berejiklian to help campaign in the upcoming federal election. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Ms Berejiklian is set to be approached directly by former party allies asking her to lend her weight to help candidates like Dave Sharma in Wentworth, Trent Zimmerman in North Sydney, and whoever the party ultimately selects to run in Warringah.

“She’s particularly respected by women,” a senior Liberal said, referencing internal polling.

Current Premier Dominic Perrottet is set to be called upon on a “case-by-case basis” to help local candidates, but is not seen as important as Ms Berejiklian to the federal party’s re-election chances.

“We need her involved,” a senior Liberal said of the former Premier. “She’s our best asset.”

Another source said officials working on key seats like Wentworth had “brainstormed” popular figures that could be drafted to help the campaign, and Ms Berejiklian was at the top of the list.

Ms Berejiklian had been courted by Mr Morrison to run for the federal seat of Warringah after she quit as Premier but she declined.

Ms Berejiklian last started a new job in the Optus executive team, as Managing Director, Enterprise, Business and Institutional.

Originally published as NSW Liberals send SOS to Gladys Berejiklian in bid to save at-risk seats