Kingmaker Michael Photios firms up control of NSW bloc

HE’S a NSW Liberal mover and shaker and Michael Photios is now tightening his hold on the federal parliamentary Liberal party.

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NSW Liberal Kingmaker Michael Photios is tightening his hold on the federal parliamentary Liberal party — expected to control a bloc of nine out of 23 NSW MPs after the election, and cementing himself as a powerbroker outside of Macquarie St.

The move has conservative Liberals concerned that the federal party is becoming more factional than ever before, and the culture of NSW is seeping into the capital.

The lobbyist and former MP runs the dominant moderate faction in NSW, and has long exercised control over state parliament, but is now growing his empire in Canberra.

His faction count NSW lower house MPs John Alexander, Paul Fletcher, Craig Laundy, Sussan Ley, Russell Matheson, Fiona Scott, Trent Zimmerman and Jason Falinski as their bloc after the election.

The kingmaker’s domain.

Federal MP for Lindsay Fiona Scott.

Federal MP for Reid Craig Laundy.

Out of federal NSW MPs, the Centre Right is expected to have five MPs after the election, and the hard right- three.

A senior conservative source said the party was concerned it would see MPs acting as lobbyists.

“It is extremely factionalised now, there is a concern these federal MPs will act as lobbyists for Michael Photios,” the senior conservative source said.

“We are becoming just like the ALP, and he is running around like he owns the place.”

A senior Liberal source said the rise in factionalism among NSW federal MPs coincided with the leadership of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

“There has been a slow and inevitable move to factionalism in the federal party,” the senior source said.

“It always prevailed at the state level, and under Abbott’s leadership there was a massive growth federally. He was our first factional Prime Minister.”

In the remaining unresolved preselections, Mr Photios in alliance with the Centre Right is expected to deliver Yvonne Keane as the candidate for Greenway, and their alliance is also expected to decide the 30 April plebiscite for the Liberal candidate for Parramatta.