Premier Dominic Perrottet’s apt Secret Santa gift as he fights to end party war

Dominic Perrottet’s gift from his staff seems rather apt, as he heads into Christmas with brawls underway in five must-win seats and legal threats from seven expelled members.

Premier Dominic Perrottet will head in to Christmas with his party at war with brawls underway in five must-win seats, threats of legal action from seven expelled members and talk of further member suspensions.

However, wielding a plastic toy gun that he got as a “Secret Santa” gift from a staff member, Mr Perrottet appeared not to have a care in the world as he enjoyed Christmas drinks on a city rooftop bar on Friday.

As the Premier opened presents with his staff on Friday afternoon, six party officials, councillors and political staffers were being notified of their expulsion from the party over allegations they had participated in branch stacking activities.

A seventh member – a senior party official – was being handed a membership termination notice as he walked into Friday night’s meeting of the NSW State executive for his poor behaviour at a Kellyville preselection.

The members – who represent both the right and moderation factions – have begun talks about taking legal action.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet wielding a plastic toy gun he received in a Secret Santa gift exchange.

Their supporters claim the expulsions were designed to help Mr Perrottet take control of his party’s shambolic preselections and also the Upper House ticket.

However, Mr Perrottet is reluctant to intervene given the experience of former prime minister Scott Morrison in the lead-up to the federal election while the necessary 90 per cent support of the state executive is also not guaranteed.

The Premier and his staff enjoyed Christmas drinks on a Sydney rooftop.

It can be revealed the premier is frustrated at the pace of which preselections have been occurring, this week urging NSW Liberal Party state director Chris Stone to “just get candidates in seats”.

The removal of a key right-wing figure from the Parramatta branches – along with possible subsequent membership suspensions – is being viewed as a positive development for the candidate hopeful Tanya Raffoul. Ms Raffoul is chief-of-staff to Transport Minister David Elliott, who is from the centre-right faction.

The Parramatta branches are right-wing controlled, as are those in Castle Hill where the expulsion of a key Hills Shire figure and NSW State executive member is being viewed as a convenient development in Mr Perrottet’s bid to reinstate Mr Elliott.

However, nominations would still have to be reopened – a move that would only occur should the last remaining candidate Mark Hodges withdraw, which the right-wing say won’t be happening.

Over in Pittwater, candidate hopeful Rory Amun is still waiting to be endorsed after all of his rivals withdrew or were eliminated, while candidates are also yet to be preselected in Wakehurst and Drummoyne.

Mr Perrottet’s appearance on the rooftop bar followed his non-appearance at a staff “awards” event held at the State Library earlier that day.

An attendee said the event was billed as a pre-election “pep talk” along with recognising staff who had performed well throughout the year.

“We would have thought Dom would have been there,” the attendee said.

A spokesman for Mr Perrottet said the premier had been participating in a meeting which had run overtime “so he had to go straight to the opening of the hospice”.