Dominic Perrottet rubbishes Matt Kean’s far right fears for Libs

Dominic Perrottet has rebuked claims from his his own treasurer that the Liberal party could become ‘Putin sympathisers’.

Premier Dominic Perrottet says he’s never met a Putin sympathiser inside the Liberal party after his Treasurer claimed the party could move to the far-right if moderate members like Dave Sharma and Trent Zimmerman are turfed by independent candidates.

Treasurer Matt Kean said the Liberal party was at risk of becoming a party of “Trump... Putin sympathisers and anti-vaxxers” if the more moderate voices are turfed out of their seats at the federal election.

Mr Perrottet agreed that the party needed to be a “broad church” with different voices but rejected Mr Kean’s views that more conservative members, including himself, would sympathise with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“One of the great aspects of the Liberal Party is that we’re a broad church, and in my experience...I’ve always enjoyed the discussions from people that come to ideas and issues from a philosophical perspective. I think that’s something that should be cherished and promoted and I think that leads to better decision making,” he said.

“When it comes to the federal election, if you want to elect someone who will grandstand, vote for an independent, if you want to elect someone who will deliver, vote for your local Liberal candidate.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. Picture: Christian Gilles

When asked who he thinks Mr Kean was referring to as the Putin sympathisers, Mr Perrottet said: “I haven’t met one”.

The Premier said a difference of opinions among Liberal party factions should not divide the party but bring them together.

He added that although he didn’t agree with the controversial views of Warringah candidate Katherine Deves, he didn’t believe that moderate voters would abandon the party.

“I think people should not be turned away from the Liberal Party because someone shares a different opinion,” he said.

“People join political parties or run for parliament because they believe in the battle of ideas.”

It comes as on Thursday morning Mr Kean warned the Teal wave threatening to wipe out progressive Liberals could result in their party lurching to the right and becoming the party of “Trump … Putin sympathisers and anti-vaxxers”.

NSW Treasurer and Energy Minister Matt Kean. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Standing next to embattled Wentworth MP Dave Sharma, who is fighting to retain his seat against Climate 200 candidate Allegra Spender, Mr Kean said the Liberal Party could move to the far right – citing the Republican Party in the United States – if party candidates like Jason Falinski, Dave Sharma and Trent Zimmerman were turfed out by their Teal opponents.

“We’ve seen the impact of what happens when the centre right parties lose moderate voices. Look at the Republican Party, the party of Lincoln, the party that abolished slavery, has now become the party of Trump, the party of Putin sympathisers and anti-vaxxers,” he said.

“That’s not in the Liberal Party’s interest and that’s why we need strong voices like (Liberal MPs) Dave Sharma, Trent Zimmerman and Jason Falinski in the Liberal party room to make sure the Liberal Party remains reflective of the communities that we’re hoping to serve.”

Mr Kean’s comments come as Liberals in once-blue ribbon seats come under intense pressure from Climate 200 candidates running in their electorates on a platform backing action on climate change.

Mr Sharma also defended the NSW Treasurer for his comments last month calling for Liberal candidate for Warringah Katherine Deves to resign in the wake of her controversial comments about transgender people.

Mr Kean was forced to deny he was “white-anting” the federal election campaign in the wake of the comments, as fears were raised that Ms Deves could hurt the Liberals in socially-progressive seats like Mr Sharma’s.

lose out to teal independents like rival candidate Allegra Spender. Picture Mark Metcalfe

Mr Kean claimed the Liberal party could turn to the right if MPs like Dave Sharma

“I think he (Mr Kean) reflected an important point of principle that the comments that she made about transgender people were unacceptable to anyone of principle and morals,” Mr Sharma said.

“I think she was right to withdraw them that and others including myself were right to condemn them.”

Mr Sharma conceded “there is always going to be some internal tension” as he claimed the Liberal Party had a wide range of perspectives.

“But the alternative is, if you lose the full spectrum of voices within a party you seek to say the legitimacy to speak on behalf of all Australians, and that’s what I don’t want to see at this election.” “That’s why I’m fighting so hard to retain,” he said.