NSW Liberal leader calls for party to move to the ‘sensible’ centre
The Coalition’s devastating election defeat on Saturday has left the Liberal Party reeling, with moderate NSW state MPs saying the party needs to lean more to the centre to beat Minns in 2027.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Coalition’s devastating election defeat on Saturday has left the Liberal Party reeling, with moderate NSW state MPs saying the party needs to lean more to the centre if it is to win against Premier Chris Minns in 2027.
The NSW Liberal Party is now scrambling to learn where it all went wrong for Peter Dutton, to prevent a similar wipe-out when taking the state’s first term Labor Premier to the polls in two years time.
NSW Opposition leader Mark Speakman said the election loss was “devastating” and that future policies needed to be grounded to “the sensible centre”.
“The Federal Liberal Party can and must rebuild and reconnect,” he said.
“I’m not here to finger point about the past … I’m determined that at a state level our policy development is rigorous, timely and firmly grounded in the sensible centre of Australian politics.”
Yet despite Mr Dutton’s loss, the NSW Liberal leader is in trouble with conservatives and members of his own moderate faction who are increasingly unconvinced he can lead the party to victory.
The Daily Telegraph spoke to multiple MPs who disagreed over whether the loss meant repositioning the party strategy towards the centre.
One state MP said that the party needed to leave the culture wars alone and focus on a platform of infrastructure building.
“This is a definite signal the only way you can govern is from the centre,” the MP said.
“It was a red wipe-out all through Western Sydney and unless we play from the centre and not engage in those culture wars, our chances of winning are next to nothing.”
Most MPs said Saturday’s outcome showed the importance of having strong policies that are articulated well in advance of an election.
“If we go back to those core Liberal principals we can thrive as a party – smaller government, fewer taxes and just getting out of people’s lives,” another MP said.
Yet other MPs disagreed that the way to beat Minns was to stay in the centre.
“Dutton’s campaign was chaotic and shambolic – I don’t think the loss had anything to do about not being in ‘the sensible centre’, it was about a lack of confidence and execution,” another NSW MP said.
“If the sensible centre is about being the same as our opponent then that’s a recipe for disaster.”
“We can win in 2027, but probably not with the current leadership,” another MP said.
Ch9 legal threat to woman over leaked tape
The Nine Network reportedly accused a woman of leaking a tape that allegedly shows the media company had unlawfully obtained information regarding former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation trial.
PM takes victory lap in Sydney, two seats still undecided in NSW
Anthony Albanese has taken a victory lap in his inner west seat of Grayndler, enjoying a coffee with supporters and even dishing out gelato to locals. Follow the latest NSW news as two seats remain in limbo.