Alex Hawke accused of trying to ‘pressure’ NSW Liberal members amid power play
Scott Morrison’s right-hand man has been accused of trying to “pressure” members into handing control to the federal party machine.
NSW
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As a new power struggle erupts within the NSW Liberal Party, Scott Morrison’s right-hand man has been accused of trying to “pressure” members into handing control to the federal party machine.
Furious NSW Liberal members have accused the Prime Minister’s representative on the state executive, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, of trying to impose federal intervention “by stealth” after the state executive was told their terms will automatically expire at the end of February.
NSW Liberal Party president Philip Ruddock told state executive members at an extraordinary general meeting on Wednesday that the division needed assistance from the federal executive to keep running until it could hold a Covid-delayed annual general meeting in late March.
Multiple state executive members accused Mr Hawke of using legal advice as a ploy to take control of the NSW division in a self-serving powerplay. They believed if the NSW division was dissolved, Mr Hawke would seek to appoint an administrator to take control of the branch which has been plagued with infighting in recent years.
The attempt to instigate the intervention is widely seen as Mr Hawke’s latest tactic to save himself from a preselection challenge in his seat of Mitchell, as well as secure preferred candidates and sitting MPs in key NSW seats ahead of the federal election.
The Liberals are yet to nominate candidates in seats the party hopes to gain, including Warringah, Hughes, Dobell and Eden-Monaro.
The preselection of sitting MPs, including moderate-faction powerbroker Trent Zimmerman in North Sydney, and Environment Minister Sussan Ley in Farrer has also not been finalised.
Liberal sources familiar with the attempt to bring about federal intervention to extend the term of the NSW executive confirmed it would be possible to either appoint an administrator or dump certain members deemed “problematic”.
This is the latest flashpoint in an internal party dispute lasting more than eight years, but which has now begun to concern senior federal Liberal MPs in other states who fear the row could harm the Coalition’s chances of re-election.
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Originally published as Alex Hawke accused of trying to ‘pressure’ NSW Liberal members amid power play
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