NSW Liberal leadership crisis: Mark Speakman a marked man as MP resigns over energy bill bungle

NSW Opposition leader Mark Speakman’s leadership has been rocked after the shock resignation of a frontbench MP over the party’s shambolic handling of Labor’s energy laws, which were passed unopposed.

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman is facing a leadership crisis after frontbencher Wendy Tuckerman quit over the party's failure to oppose Labor's controversial energy laws.

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman’s hold on the leadership has been dealt a dramatic blow after the shock resignation of a frontbench MP over the party’s shambolic handling of Labor’s energy laws which were passed unopposed.

MPs last night confirmed Mr Speakman’s leadership is now at its most perilous position since he took the job.

While his prospective leadership opponents do not have the numbers for a successful challenge, The Saturday Telegraph can reveal MPs have held cross-factional talks agreeing that any possible spill must occur before the end of the year.

The issue was brought to a head on Friday afternoon when Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman blindsided Mr Speakman, when she revealed she would quit the Liberal frontbench over the party’s handling of Labor’s electricity infrastructure bill which broadens the Minister’s powers over the electricity grid.

“I cannot overstate how let down I feel,” the MP, whose seat is significantly affected by the legislation, declared.

“I don’t care about my career here - I care about the principle behind the politics. I can no longer in good conscience be part of a process that sidelines the voices of constituents... or undermines my ability to represent the people who put me here.”

Its understood party members pressured Ms Tuckerman to change her mind but she held firm.

The Labor legislation in question handed Labor’s Energy Minister Penny Sharpe broader powers over the grid.

Ms Tuckerman – who was the local government spokeswoman – accused her colleagues of failing to adequately brief her on the Minns government’s bill.

Labor’s Energy Minister Penny Sharpe has been granted significant new powers over new renewables projects after Labor fast-tracked new legislation. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Labor had advised Opposition energy spokesman James Griffin of the plan to hand Minister Sharpe new powers more than a week ago but Mr Griffin did not raise the proposal on Monday. He waited until Tuesday to alert the Coalition party room, the same day Labor introduced the legislation to the lower house.

It quickly passed parliament on Thursday night.

Mr Griffin – a member of the moderate faction – insisted he worked as “constructively and quickly” as he could, noting the first he saw of the bill was in draft form.

When asked to explain why the Liberals ultimately voted in favour of the Labor’s legislation, Mr Speakman said: “We don’t have the numbers. And we were told that it was urgent, that it was all above board and we relied on the government’s assurances”.

Speaking exclusively to The Saturday Telegraph, Ms Tuckerman said while Mr Griffin had “wanted to make sure that he was doing the right thing”, she believed he had “failed in ensuring that we had a proper discussion about this”.

Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman in NSW State Parliament on Friday announcing her decision to resign from the Opposition frontbench. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I’m still not clear why there was such urgency here. For the fact that I had been given no notice – I had not been asked, there was no consideration, I feel really let down. I will not stand by and not have a voice for my community,” she said.

Ms Tuckerman claimed Mr Speakman “had the ability to say no” when the legislation was first raised and “that didn’t happen”.

Ms Tuckerman has repeatedly raised concerns in parliament over the impact of large-scale renewable energy projects on her electorate.

More than 700 wind turbines have been built or are under construction in the Yass Valley Local Government Area alone.

“Mark and the leadership gave Wendy a tin-ear” one MP who supports Tuckerman said. “She has been talking about wind turbines for 12 months.”

Mr Speakman was caught by surprise when this masthead broke the news that Ms Tuckerman was intending to resign, claiming he was “not aware of any such decision”.

NSW Mp MP Wendy Tuckerman said Opposition leader Mark Speakman had the ability to say no when the new Labor legislation was first raised but “that didn’t happen”. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“I’ve had a conversation with Wendy … she certainly didn’t resign in that conversation. She is angry and understandably angry about this rushed legislation,” he said. Some MPs declared it was not a matter of “if” but “when” Mr Speakman’s leadership would be challenged now.

While none of the prospective leadership candidates have the numbers, one MP told this masthead that talks had been held about the timing of a challenge should be needed.

“Conversations have been had that if we change leaders, it needs to be done by the end of this year,” the MP said, who also claimed the talks were among politicians “from the different factions”.

“It’s a question of when, not if Mark will be challenged. He’s even starting to annoy people from his own faction” another MP said.

Chatter among Liberals about the party leadership resurfaced last weekend, with some pointing to Mr Speakman’s timid response to the pro-Palestine Harbour Bridge protest as another concern.

Mr Speakman reassured his troops on Tuesday that he was working on a plan for the upcoming election, seeking to temper criticisms that the party is lacking direction under his watch.

One Liberal MP claimed that Ms Tuckerman had been “used” by the agitators to destabilise Mr Speakman’s leadership for their own personal gain.

“There is a small part of the party that is trying to destabilise,” the MP said.

Ms Tuckerman rejected those claims: “this is purely about my community. I won’t be accused of starting a coup against Mark Speakman. I just want leadership to stand up and fight for the right thing.”