The Sauce: Libs brace for teal army
Liberals are adamant independent MP Sophie Scamps is preparing to put up a teal candidate in the seat of Pittwater, which has become vulnerable with the departure of Infrastructure Minister Rob Stokes.
NSW
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A teal army could soon return to Sydney’s northern beaches for a second offensive in taking over Liberal seats – this time at State level.
Local Liberals are adamant independent MP Sophie Scamps is preparing to put up a candidate in the seat of Pittwater, which has become vulnerable with the departure of Infrastructure Minister Rob Stokes.
The seat has been held by an independent MP on two occasions – once prior to Mr Stokes winning the seat in 2007, and again in the 1980s.
Upper House MLC Natasha Maclaren-Jones had been tipped to run in the seat, although some Liberals believe she could end up in the neighbouring seat of Wakehurst held by Health Minister Brad Hazzard should the long-serving Liberal retire.
Lawyer Claire Longley – who is the daughter of former Pittwater MP Jim Longley – had been regarded as a frontrunner in Pittwater, but is rumoured to be battling an issue with her party membership.
Should Ms Longely be ruled out of the race, Northern Beaches Councillor Rory Amon is understood to have strong support.
However, a senior Liberal claimed last week that Dr Scamps had indicated a teal would almost certainly be put up if Cr Amon was preselected to run in Pittwater.
A spokesman for Ms Scamps said the Mackellar MP denied declaring she would put up a candidate if Cr Amon was preselected.
“Sophie has had zero to do with any of the independent campaigns on the Beaches,” he said.
“(The) liberal source who said Sophie made comments about Rory Amon is incorrect and false.
“Sophie confirmed she has said nothing to anyone about Rory.”
Further down the insular peninsular, a conga-line of candidates are waiting to hear if Mr Hazzard plans to call time on this three-decade plus parliamentary career.
It seems the longer the party waits to open nominations in the seat, the more candidate names are added to the list.
Among the names doing the rounds include Northern Beaches councillors Georgia Ryburn and David Walton, consultant Wendy Finianos and Mr Hazzard’s electorate officer Toby Williams.
A potential teal threat could come in the form of Northern Beaches mayor Michael Regan, whom many local Liberals believe would have a real shot at claiming the seat should Mr Hazzard go.
Further down the coast, the only “teal” in sight is Kiama MP Gareth Ward, with the former Liberal minister cheekily using the colour on his election brochures.
As for the seat of South Coast, Luke Sikora appears to have the numbers to win preselection over the Federal MP Alex Hawke-backed candidate Jemma Tribe.
The seat is being vacated by Sikora’s boss, the long-serving Liberal Shelley Hancock, whom he worked for as her chief-of-staff.
Tribe has previously stood as a Family First candidate in the federal seat of Cunningham and for local council as an independent.
PARTYING LIBS
Two rival Liberal candidates are putting the “party” back into the Liberal Party, with each hosting events designed to bolster their chances at being chosen as the candidate for the North Shore seat of Davidson.
Roads Minister Natalie Ward – who is wanting to switch from the Upper to Lower House – will on Sunday host an invite-only “garden party” in the well-to-do suburb of Killara.
Among guests who were expected to be attending include Premier Dominic Perrottet, former premier Mike Baird and Infrastructure Minister Rob Stokes.
Ms Ward, who is a member of the moderate faction, is up against fellow left-winger Matt Cross, who hosted his own event in the seat on Wednesday night.
Mr Cross is a former adviser to Mr Baird, ex-premier Barry O’Farrell and ex-federal attorney general Philip Ruddock.
A Liberal source said Mr Baird’s attendance at Ms Ward’s event should not be read as the minister being favoured over Mr Cross.
“He is doing the rounds supporting everyone,” the source claimed.
It is understood Mr Baird will head off to the eastern suburbs to attend a separate party being hosted by former breakfast host Kellie Sloane, who is hoping to become the Liberal candidate for the seat of Vaucluse.
Mr Cross, who is a management consultant, held a “Night With John Howard” event at the Greengate Hotel in Killara where the former prime minister was seen enjoying a classic pub meal of bangers and mash after launching his book A Sense of Balance.
Among the guests at Mr Cross’s event included fellow moderate, federal MP Paul Fletcher, who is one of his referees.
A vacancy in the seat has been created with the retirement of incumbent MP Jonathan O’Dea.
PARTY HOPPING
It seems Labor will sign anybody up – including someone who has been a member of no less than six other parties, such as is the case with new recruit John Spilstead.
Spilstead was listed among the names of recently joined Labor members in the NSW ALP State Conference books, which require all new members to list their previous parties.
In the case of Spilstead, these were the Young Liberals, Palmer United Party, the National Party, One Nation, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, and the Australian Greens.
STAFF HIRES
PREMIER Dominic Perrottet has beefed up his media team, hiring adviser Erin Forster from the office of Roads Minister Natalie Ward.
Forster joins Ben Wicks who previously worked as an adviser in the officer of former prime minster Scott Morrison – and also ex-health minister Greg Hunt – before taking on the role of the premier’s executive director of communications.
Wicks is one of the few former ScoMo staffers that has jumped straight back to work, with the LinkedIn profiles of much of the rest of the office looking to still be on an extended vacay.
The lobbyist register shows the former PM’s “strategy and research senior adviser” Jarryd Williamson has joined CMAX Advisory.
Madeleine Church – a former policy adviser in the officer of Senator Anne Ruston – has joined Crosby Textor Research Strategies Results as a manager.
CANNY MOVE
After an unprecedented five years in the position, Australian Hotels Association (AHA) national president Scott Leach has stood down.
After being elected unopposed, AHA Victoria President David Canny will take over the reins to continue the job of leading the nation’s hotels as they recover from the impacts of the Covid pandemic.
AHA South Australia’s David Basheer has become the new Senior Vice-President, while Tasmanian Hospitality Association’s Ben Carpenter is the new National Secretary/Treasurer.
Northern Territory’s Paul Palmer will remain the Vice-President.
Mr Leach – who has also been the AHA NSW President since 2008 and will continue in that role – said the past few years has proved to be among the most challenging times for the sector.
“Hotels were at the economic frontline of the pandemic – were among the first businesses to close and last to fully re-open,” he said.
“I am particularly proud of the resilience and community spirit shown by hoteliers’ right around Australia during my time in office.”
Mr Canny is a second-generation hotelier who has been licensee at the Red Lion Hotel, Ballarat since 1995, and is director of the Montague Hotel, South Melbourne.
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