NSW Liberal leader Kellie Sloane mixes up key Western Sydney suburbs amid media blitz

The new Liberal leader has confused Blacktown with Bankstown in her first major media blitz, amid hiring a PR agency to manage her escalation to party leader. She’s spoken out on the awkward moment.

New NSW Liberal Party leader Kellie Sloane joins Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie on NOVA. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Premier Chris Minns finally has a 21st century adversary in newly minted Liberal leader Kellie Sloane.

The Opposition Leader engaged a professional public relations agency to create slick social media videos marking her ascension to the party’s top job.

She tasked the publicity firm to pump out glossy clips of her first days in the job, including one showcasing a visit to Parramatta.

The bill will most likely be paid out of Liberal Party head office funds.

It will not be covered by taxpayers.

One Liberal quipped that whatever she paid the agency would be worth it, noting how it made Ms Sloane look professional compared to Mr Speakman.

The Daily Telegraph understands that after the first few days of her social media blitz, the PR firm is no longer being used.

Ms Sloane’s social media campaign began within minutes of taking over the job on Friday.

The charm offensive continued across the AM and FM airwaves yesterday morning, including interviews with 2GB, the ABC, 2SM and Nova FM.

She told 2GB she had “been busy just getting out, hitting the ground, being in communities across western Sydney and Bankstown and Harris Park over the weekend”.

However, she then told 2SM she spent Saturday night at a “big dinner with multicultural communities in Blacktown”.

Screen grabs from Kellie Sloane's Instagram page after she was chosen to lead the NSW Liberal Party. Picture: Instagram

One of the posts created by the PR firm. Picture: Instagram

That event was actually in Bankstown – at the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools’ Gala Dinner.

It was held at Bankstown Sports Club – 30 kilometres from Blacktown.

“It was a simple slip of the tongue after a busy few days in the new job,” Ms Sloane told the Telegraph.

The gaffe will do little to boost Ms Sloane’s Western Sydney credentials. She has repeatedly tried to downplay the fact she represents one of the wealthiest electorates in the state – the eastern suburbs seat of Vaucluse.

New Liberal leader Kellie Sloane speaks with Ben Fordham on 2GB. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Ironically, Ms Sloane has spent the past months consistently highlighting repeated failures at Blacktown hospital.

In her radio interviews, Ms Sloane said she has not turned her attention to a looming reshuffle within the NSW Coalition.

Ms Sloane’s media blitz included NOVA FM. Picture: Rohan Kelly

She told 2GB that Mr Speakman has a place on her frontbench, if he wanted one.

“If he wants to, I think he’d make an incredible contribution,” she said.

On the ABC, Ms Sloane said she was “open” to privatisation to build new infrastructure.

She said she would not make any commitments before talking with colleagues.

“I’m not going to get into specifics (on) day one.”.

She recommitted to supporting net zero, but said she would be focused on families.

“I don’t like those two words … they’re important for business confidence, but other than that, we want to be focused on the here and now.”

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