Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman unable to spend campaign funds while opponent splashes cash

An incumbent MP in a must-win Liberal seat is unable to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funding because he has not been confirmed as the party’s candidate.

A stalemate over Liberal preselections is preventing the party spending campaign funds in North Sydney and putting the government’s hold on the seat at risk.

Incumbent MP Trent Zimmerman is fighting to hold the electorate in the face of a challenge from a cashed up independent, but can’t spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funding because he has not been confirmed as the Liberal candidate.

Senior Liberal sources said the North Sydney campaign fund is in the vicinity of $400,000, but that can’t be spent until a candidate is preselected.

North Sydney incumbent Trent Zimmerman. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

North Sydney independent candidate Kylea Tink. Picture: John Appleyard

While Mr Zimmerman remains hamstrung, his challenger – independent Kylea Tink – is splashing cash on advertising and pamphlets.

It was reported last week that Ms Tink has raised $684,000 in campaign finances.

Liberals are increasingly worried about retaining Northern Sydney against a challenge from Ms Tink, a progressive independent who is supported by the Climate 200 fund.

Senior sources said internal party polling conducted in December put North Sydney in doubt. Results from the Willoughby by-election earlier this month, in which former Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s replacement Tim James was hit with a massive swing against him, have further worried insiders.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Mr Zimmerman is one of three high-profile incumbent Liberals facing a preselection challenge from rival faction members.

Environment Minister Sussan Ley is facing a challenge in Farrer, while centre-right powerbroker Alex Hawke is also being challenged in Mitchell.

Their preselections have not been finalised amid an impasse which has left the Liberal party without candidates in a number of must-win NSW seats.

Internal polling from December also indicated Dave Sharma could be in trouble in Wentworth, sources said.

NSW State Executive members are expecting to imminently be provided with a list of preferred candidates for electorates which have not yet been finalised.

If endorsed by state party officials, those candidates will be preselected – but if the list fails to pass a state executive vote, it can be overturned by federal executive members.

Last week a bid by NSW party officials to vote for a “pathway forward” that would have led to a shortened preselection process was ruled out of order.