Kellie Sloane appointed NSW Liberal leader as party seeks to stabilise after chaotic week
Newly appointed NSW Liberal leader Kellie Sloane has rejected suggestions she needs a rebrand, describing herself as a “country-raised, public school-educated, working mum” ready to take on Premier Chris Minns.
Newly installed Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane is convinced she doesn’t need a rebrand to connect with the Liberal Party’s working-class heartland, in order to become the state’s next Premier, as she take’s aim at a “formidable” Chris Minns.
The message to the state comes after Ms Sloane was installed as the new leader of the NSW Liberal Party after an uncontested ballot on Friday morning, capping off a dramatic week that saw Mark Speakman forced to resign and a potential leadership challenge collapse overnight.
Speaking to media just hours after her appointment, the Liberal Leader said she was already counting down to the next election, and “the challenge ahead of us”.
“I am ready for the fight, and as a team, we are ready for the fight,” she said. “This has been an uninspiring Labor Government, and we are committed to a positive to a bold and an ambitious vision for NSW.”
Despite shots already being fired by her opponents over the Eastern Suburbs lifestyle she enjoys, the Vaucluse MP said she was a “country raised, public school educated, working mum, who has built a career listening to people, telling their stories and advocating for them”.
“I’ve been a CEO of a big not-for-profit based out in Western Sydney, that gave me the ability to connect with families right around the state and learn first-hand what their problems are, what they care about for their families,” she said. “I’ve been a journalist … but most importantly, I am a mum, and I’m a wife.
“They are the reason I want our state to be a better place and I want that for all young people in NSW.”
When questioned by this masthead over how she differs from former Liberal Leader Mark Speakman, Ms Sloane said she would bring her own style to the leadership position.
“I’ll be consultative. I’ll try to remain myself, be authentic, listen to people. You know, we’ve got to do a better job of telling our story and reminding the people of New South Wales what we stand for.”
However, she said there were no major changes to policies put forward by the party, while also backing the expansion of “planned” and structured housing increases across the state – including inside her eastern suburbs electorate.
“I’ve always said that every community needs to the heavily thing when it comes to housing, whether it’s my community, or whether it’s Western Sydney, or whether it’s regional NSW.”
“What I don’t support is sloppy planning, planning without a business case, planning without community infrastructure.”
When questioned over “decade-old” photos of Ms Sloane enjoying caviar on a superyacht, she took aim at her opponents, declaring, “if that’s the worst they can come up with, then I think I’m off to a good start”.
Earlier in the day, Ms Sloane said a “united Liberal Party room” had endorsed her as their new leader, in a move she described as “an incredible honour, huge responsibility, one I don’t take lightly”.
“I’m ready to work for NSW, and I thank my colleagues for the faith and the trust that they’ve placed in me,” she said.
Opposition Whip Adam Crouch confirmed Natalie Ward retained the position of deputy leader, while the new deputy leader of the Legislative Assembly was appointed as Albury MP, Justin Clancy.
NSW Nationals Leader Gurmesh Singh said he would work with Ms Sloane on key pillars that needed to be addressed in the community, including crime and housing.
“IIt’s a great choice moving forward,” he said. “And we’re looking forward to taking the ball up against Chris Minns.”
He described the appointment of two female leaders of the Liberal Party as “historic”.
Ms Sloane, who entered parliament in 2023, was elected unapposed on Friday morning as she begins the task of unifying a party left bruised by factional manoeuvring, failed challenges and bitter public accusations between senior figures.
Her elevation follows Mr Speakman’s sudden departure on Thursday afternoon, after months of speculation about his leadership.
Despite insisting earlier in the day he intended to stay on, he ultimately conceded the ongoing internal noise had made his position untenable, with the only other contender, Alister Henskens, bowing out of the race late on Thursday after conceding he did not have the numbers to force a contest.
He has strongly denied claims he played a role in destabilising Mr Speakman, instead accusing the former leader’s closest allies of driving the push to remove him.
NSW Premier Chris Minns also paid tribute to outgoing Opposition leader Mark Speakman as “one of the gentlemen” in Australian politics, calling on successor Kellie Sloane to take a bipartisan approach to her own leadership of the rival party.
“Kellie Sloane’s a really lovely person, and I wish her the very best for the job,” the Premier said on Friday. “Obviously I’m in competition with her, but it’s a real honour to lead a political party so hats off to her.”
Minns also said “the public’s view of Mark (Speakman) would have been enhanced” by the manner in which he approached the leadership turmoil, describing his political rival as “a very decent person” who “genuinely believes in public service”.
The Premier didn’t speculate on whether Ms Sloane would be tougher opponent at the next election than Mr Speakman would have been, but acknowledged “it’ll be a challenge for us”.
“If there are things that the two of us can work on to make New South Wales better, I am up for it, and I hope Kelly is too.”
Federal Liberal leader Sussan Ley, who herself has faced scrutiny over her leadership from colleagues, heaped praise on Kellie Sloane this morning.
“Kellie Sloane, who looks set to take on the job, is an outstanding young woman, and we look forward to everyone across the country holding – whether it be state or federal governments – to account for a cost of living crisis,” Ley told Sky News.
The upheaval has sparked frustration among Liberal MPs, many of whom say the internal chaos has derailed what was meant to be the party’s final week of scrutiny on the Minns government before the end of the parliamentary year.
Ms Sloane’s leadership is expected to be the first step in the party’s attempt to reset, with the deputy role to be decided in the coming days.
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