Liberal Party factions battle it out to end preselection stand-off in NSW

Factional powerbrokers have tried to broker a deal to end the warfare that has threatened the Liberal preselections of several NSW MPs, including minister Alex Hawke and Sussan Ley.

NSW Liberal powerbrokers are close to a deal to end the federal election preselection standoff that has prevented the party choosing candidates in seats the government needs to win if it is to retain power this year.

On Saturday factional powerbrokers met on a phone hook-up to try to nut out a deal to end the warfare that has threatened the preselections of several NSW MPs, including ministers Sussan Ley and Alex Hawke.

Environment Minister Sussan Ley’s preselection was under threat. Picture: Richard Dobbins

The Sunday Telegraph was told the call included the Prime Minister’s chief political fixer Yaron Finkelstein and Mr Hawke from the Centre-Right, the NSW Treasurer Matt Kean and North Sydney MP Trent Zimmerman, who represented the Left.

The Right faction is understood to have been represented by Premier Dominic Perrottet’s brother Charles and the CEO of Catholic Schools NSW Dallas McInerney.

Sources familiar with the call said a deal was not far away.

They said there was agreement the challenges against Mr Hawke, Ms Ley, Mr Zimmerman and MP for Reid Fiona Martin would all disappear, clearing the way for their re-endorsement.

There is also understood to be a broad agreement there will be a preselection for the third spot of the Coalition Senate ticket which would see Senator Connie Fierravanti-Wells facing off against any challengers in a party plebiscite.

The preselection for the seat of Bennelong, which is held by retiring MP John Alexander, is expected to go to preselection, as will Parramatta which is being vacated by Julie Owens.

There will also be a preselection in Dobell, where Mr Morrison is backing businesswomen and Pentecostal minister Jemima Gleeson who is battling it out against St Vincent’s Hospital cardiologist ­Michael Feneley, who has the backing of former PM John Howard.

Preselection for Craig Kelly’s vacated seat of Hughes continues to be a sticking point for the Liberal Party. Picture: Getty Images

The most fractious sticking point is understood to be the seat of Hughes, held by Craig Kelly who has defected to Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party.

The PM has made it clear he wants Melanie Gibbons, state MP for Holsworthy, to take the seat but the proposed move is meeting fierce factional resistance.

State government figures say they fear the Perrottet government would be in grave danger of losing a by-election in Ms Gibbons’ state seat because they believe support for the Liberals has still not recovered there following last year’s lockdowns.

The other sticking point preventing factional peace in our time is Tony Abbott’s old seat of Warringah, currently held by independent Zali Steggall.

But party sources said the fight there between the Left’s Jane Buncle and the Right’s Lincoln Parker was seen as increasingly meaningless because the Liberals believe there is little chance of wrestling it back from Ms Steggall.

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]