Gladys Berejiklian’s new Optus job keeps her away from election
She was a popular premier up until her resignation but so far Gladys Berejiklian has been all but missing from the Liberal party’s election campaign trail.
NSW
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Gladys Berejiklian has been absent from the Liberal party’s election campaign because her new job at Optus means she cannot be “too political,” Liberals say.
Ms Berejiklian has told former colleagues that her new job has prevented her from campaigning for the re-election of MPs in must-win inner Sydney seats in her new role.
Moderate Liberals are frustrated that the former Premier has been hamstrung in helping MPs keep their seats, believing she is the party’s best asset in holding electorates being targeted by teal independents.
Ms Berejiklian attended close friend Trent Zimmerman’s campaign launch last week but declined to speak, according to multiple sources.
Mackeller MP Jason Falinski said it was “absolutely disappointing” that she has not been on the campaign trail, “because of her popularity in the community”.
“We would have loved to have Gladys campaigning for us but she is nervous and anxious about being overtly political with her new job at Optus,” Mr Falinski said.
Other Liberals were also frustrated that Ms Berejiklian has been unable to lend her popularity to re-electing a Morrison government.
Ms Berejiklian started at Optus in February, in the newly created role of “Managing Director, Enterprise, Business and Institutional”.
As previously revealed by The Daily Telegraph, senior Liberals had called on Ms Berejiklian to help save key seats at risk of falling to so-called “teal” independents.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been absent in seats like North Sydney, Wentworth, and Mackellar, which could all fall to Climate 200-backed candidates.
Ms Berejiklian was seen as someone who could convince voters to stick with the government.
The Daily Telegraph sought comment from Ms Berejiklian but did not receive a reply.
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