Pre-election battle avoided as Craig Kelly re-endorsed for Hughes

Four Liberal MPs including backbencher Craig Kelly have been re-endorsed for next year’s federal election, despite former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s attempt to derail the plan.

• Malcolm Turnbull intervenes in re-endorsement plan
• Craig Kelly’s crossbench threat over preselection

Malcolm Turnbull’s attempt to derail the re-endorsement of Liberal MP Craig Kelly has failed with the NSW State Executive voting to retain the backbencher, avoiding a preselection battle.

The Daily Telegraph can confirm that several candidates have been protected from preselection battles in a bid to stop the warring factions from further dragging the government into chaos.

“The NSW Liberal Party has today re-endorsed John Alexander OAM MP as our candidate for Bennelong, Jason Falinski MP as our candidate for Mackellar, Craig Kelly MP as our candidate for Hughes, and Lucy Wicks MP as our candidate for Robertson,” a spokesman for the NSW Liberal Party executive branch said.

Kelly had threatened to run as an independent if he wasn’t preselected by the Liberal party. Picture: Gary Ramage

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“This endorsement allows the federal MPs to focus on the critical tasks of serving their communities and campaigning to defeat Bill Shorten and Labor at the next election. The Liberal Party will continue working hard for the people of Australia by delivering a stronger economy and a secure nation.”

In an explosive series of tweets the day before the vote the former prime minister said Mr Kelly’s threat to “bring down the Government” should not “result in a capitulation”.

He said re-endorsing Mr Kelly “would be the worst and weakest response to such a threat”.

“Today I learned there was a move to persuade the State Executive to re-endorse Craig Kelly as Liberal candidate for Hughes in order to avoid a preselection — in other words to deny Liberal Party members in Hughes the opportunity to have their say,” Mr Turnbull said.

MP Lucy Wicks has been re-endorsed for Roberston. Picture: Sue Graham

Jason Falinski retained support in the seat of Mackeller. Picture Kym Smith

“I subsequently spoke with several State Executive members to express my strong view that the Party’s democratic processes should operate in the normal way.”

Mr Turnbull’s comments sparked intervention from Prime Minister Scott Morrison who called the NSW State Executive to intervene on Mr Kelly’s behalf and protect all sitting MPs from being disendorsed creating further chaos in the government.

The Daily Telegraph understands the vote formally passed this afternoon after the key members who were planning to oust Mr Kelly abstained from voting after hearing Mr Morrison’s plea.

A Liberal Party insider told The Daily Telegraph conservative politicians were now convinced Mr Turnbull himself was attempting to “blow up” the government after trying to influence the Craig Kelly vote and calling for an early election on ABC radio.

Bennelong MP John Alexander has also been re-endorsed. Picture: Adam Yip

Mr Turnbull — who has previously called for former prime ministers to stay out of the spotlight — argued this morning that distancing the federal election from the NSW State Election could save Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s government.

“Morrison has to judge the right timing for an election, but you would understand … that there is a real concern in New South Wales Liberal circles that a very good, outstanding government led by Gladys Berejiklian is going to have its prospects of success diminished because of the brand damage to the Liberal Party caused by the leadership change in August,” he said.