Peter Poulos Penthouse scandal: Jacqui Munro, David Elliott in running to fill MP vacancy

Liberal Party Women’s Council President Jacqui Munro and outgoing minister David Elliott have emerged as contenders to replace MP Peter Poulos, who was dumped over twin complaints including a nude photo scandal.

Moderate Liberals have endorsed the party’s Women’s Council President Jacqui Munro as their faction’s preferred candidate to replace dumped Peter Poulos on the upper house ticket.

Treasurer Matt Kean called an urgent phone hook up of the moderate – or, left – faction on Sunday night with just an hour’s notice to vote on who they would back to replace Mr Poulos.

Other names considered in the evening hook-up were include Holsworthy MP Melanie Gibbons and Upper House MP Shayne Mallard, who was previously dumped from the party’s ticket.

Liberal executive Deyi Wu and Shoalhaven Deputy Mayor Paul Ell were also considered.

One source accused Mr Kean of foisting a last-minute decision on faction members with the evening hook-up.

Jacqui Munro ran for the Liberal party in Tanya Plibersek’s seat of Sydney in 2019. Picture: Supplied

Ms Munro will now face a ballot of state executive members as early as today.

It comes after retiring Transport Minister David Elliott told Premier Dominic Perrottet that he wanted to run for the vacancy.

The Telegraph also understands that Mr Perrottet wants a woman to replace Mr Poulos, who was suspended from the party late on Saturday.

“I‘ve always said I want to see … more women put their hand up to run for the Liberal Party,” Mr Perrottet told reporters on Sunday.

Premier Dominic Perrottet is under pressure to replace ousted MP Peter Poulos on the Liberal party’s upper house ticket. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

However, Mr Perrottet was staying out of the factional discussions.

“A number of people will put their hand up to run, that’s a very good thing. I support that.”

The decision on who will replace Mr Poulos on the Liberal party’s upper house ticket will be a matter for the powerful state executive; it is understood the issue will not go to a full party preselection.

Party sources said Liberal President Maria Kovacic is set to issue a ballot to endorse Ms Munro for the upper house ticket as early as today.

Peter Poulos was disendorsed from the Liberal party’s upper house ticket on Saturday.

However, the numbers for Ms Munro were said to be tight.

Ms Munro has previously ran as the Liberal Party’s candidate for the federal electorate of Sydney.

With the party’s state executive searching for a replacement candidate for Mr Poulos, Finance Minister Damien Tudehope’s resignation from the Ministry over his Transurban shareholdings was still sending shockwaves through cabinet over the weekend.

Ministers were frantically checking their own superannuation portfolios over the weekend to ensure they comply with all the rules.

Finance Minister Damien Tudehope quit the frontbench over his shareholdings in Transurban, revealed by The Daily Telegraph on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

While Mr Tudehope was cleared by departmental legal advice, which found he did not “knowingly breach” the ministerial code of conduct, his resignation has sparked concern among ministers about what their own superannuation portfolios are allowed to invest in.

Premier Dominic Perrottet downplayed the crisis facing his party, after one of his most senior ministers was forced to quit the frontbench and a parliamentary secretary was booted from the election entirely.

Mr Perrottet insisted Mr Tudehope did not “knowingly breach” the Ministerial code of conduct due to his Transurban shareholdings, suggesting that while a breach occurred, Mr Tudehope was unaware.