PM invites Bridget Sakr to run in federal seat of Parramatta

Scott Morrison has asked Bridget Sakr, the mother of Veronique Sakr who was tragically killed in the Oatlands crash, to run for the federal seat of Parramatta.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison asked Bridget Sakr, the mother of Veronique Sakr who was tragically killed in the Oatlands crash, to run as the Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Parramatta.

It is understood the prime minister made the phone call himself but Ms Sakr, who just last month contested the state seat of Strathfield in a by-election, politely declined.

Bridget Sakr with her husband Craig Mackenzie while campaigning for a NSW by-election. Picture: Tim Hunter

While Labor retained the seat of Strathfield, which was previously held by opposition leader Jodi McKay, Ms Sakr’s campaign was deemed a success by NSW Liberal Party officials after she reduced the margin.

While Ms Sakr has not confirmed her intentions to recontest the seat, a source close to her said she wanted to “remain focused on serving her local community of Strathfield”.

“That is the main reason she did not want to run for Parramatta,” the source said.

“She feels honoured to have been asked but her focus is her local community of Strathfield.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Bridget Sakr helping out on the BBQ during the Strathfield by-election. Picture: Tim Hunter

The Prime Minister’s approach to the successful businesswoman — whose daughter, along with her three young cousins, were killed by a drunk and drugged driver outside Oatlands Golf Club two years ago — was made on Monday and comes ahead of a meeting of the federal executive on Friday to progress the candidate selection process in key NSW seats, including Parramatta.

The federal intervention follows a year-long impasse within the NSW state executive over the selection of candidates, including sitting members Alex Hawke, Trent Zimmermann and Sussan Ley.

Right and left-wing executive members have largely blamed the stalemate on Mr Hawke, who is the prime minister’s representative on the NSW committee, and has been failing to turn up to candidate vetting meetings, which they say has been to purposely stall progress.

A ballot of the state executive held on Wednesday to endorse all known candidates in NSW seats passed 16-6, or 73 per cent in favour.

While party rules require a 90 per cent result to pass, a meeting of the federal executive on Friday is expected to rule that the outcome constitutes a majority and should be ratified.

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Originally published as PM invites Bridget Sakr to run in federal seat of Parramatta