Dominic Perrottet faces Liberals conference after weeks of scandal

The Premier has admitted the federal government failed to convince voters the Liberals are more than “Labor lite” as he faced his first party conference after weeks of scandal within his ranks.

Dominic Perrottet has used a speech to NSW Liberal members to reflect on the failures of the federal election and to call the party to distinguish itself from being “Labor lite”.

Speaking at the first NSW Liberal party state council since losing the federal election, Mr Perrottet admitted the federal government relied too heavily on the pandemic response to win votes.

“The Liberal party cannot simply be the clean-up crew for Labor’s mess or a watered down Labor lite,” Mr Perrottet said.

“We cannot be a party that simply runs on its track record and doesn‘t set a vision for our future,” he said.

“Now this might be controversial to say in this room but I believe that we failed to do that at a federal level. Our strong track record of getting Australia through the pandemic was not enough.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet speaks at the Liberal Party NSW AGM Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

The Premier admitted the last month had been “tough” for his government but did not specifically address the John Barilaro scandal or the dumping of Eleni Petinos and Stuart Ayres, both of whom did not attend on Saturday.

Mr Perrottet urged the Liberal faithful to “rebuild, refresh and revitalise” policies after the federal loss as he announced preselections would open within the next two weeks for candidates ahead of the 2023 state election.

Mr Perrottet addressed a crowd including Treasurer Matt Kean at the Liberal Party NSW AGM Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

As moderate Liberal Matt Kean and conservative right wing factional David Elliott face off for the deputy leadership, the Premier earned laughs in his speech for acknowledging the “hypothetical” faction wars.

“We all remember when Malcolm Turnbull once stood up here and said there are no factions in the Liberal Party, but hypothetically if there were … I would lean more to the conservative side,” he said.

“Conservatism to me is not about slowing things down or being reactionary, but taking the best things from the past into the future … a brand and a blend of stability and change,” he said.

The Premier also used his speech to outline the government’s track record on schooling and development, and to warn the “year of the strike” is the first taste of what life in NSW will look like if Labor secures victory.

Federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton was a no show, however deputy Sussan Ley said NSW is central to the “three year plan” to unite and win back government, and warned of the threat of independents to a crowd including ousted North Sydney MP Trent Zimmerman, who lost his seat to teal Kylea Tink.