Senior Libs forced to show party officials phones amid media leaks

A Friday night Liberal party meeting descended into farce when furious big wigs demanded to see the phones of party members in a bid to discover who had been leaking to media.

A meeting of the NSW Liberal Party state executive descended into a farce on Friday night after frustrated party bosses demanded members show the messages on their phones to determine who had been leaking to the media.

The order was made by Liberal Party state director Richard Shields after this reporter broke a story about the party expelling Upper House MLC Taylor Martin following an investigation into a complaint lodged by his former boss and ex-federal MP Lucy Wicks, with whom he had been in a secret relationship.

A source familiar with the meeting claimed Shields and party president Don Harwin had, minutes earlier, delivered a “lecture” to state executive members about the ongoing leaks from HQ to journalists, when the pair moved on to discuss the Martin and Wicks report.

As Shields declared how he needed to send out a media statement on the decision to expel Martin he was informed The Saturday Telegraph was already reporting the story.

Liberal Party state director Richard Shields. Picture: John Appleyard

“He went atomic,” our source said. “He was saying things like ‘What’s with you people’ and ‘This is outrageous’ before ordering everyone to line up and show him their phones.”

And in scenes reminiscent of the “MAFS phone swap challenge”, Shields allegedly began scrolling through members’ phones to try to find the leak.

Alas, not all members of the state executive had attended the meeting in person, with several, including MPs Sussan Ley, Angus Taylor – who is also Liberal leader Peter Dutton’s representative on the committee – and Women’s Council president Berenice Walker, appearing on Zoom.

Taylor Martin has been expelled from the Liberal Party. Picture: AAP Image/Sue Graham

Unable to nail down the culprit, The Sauce hears, Shields and Harwin are contemplating banning phones from state executive meetings altogether – a recommendation we hear came from Mark Coure who was representing state opposition leader Mark Speakman at the meeting – and forcing all members to attend future meetings in person.

Back to the Martin expulsion, we hear at least three members questioned why the party had referred the matter to a legal expert in Patricia McDonald SC to investigate, when it was essentially a “a private relationship” issue.

Harwin was also questioned about how much the eight-month investigation had cost the cash-strapped party.

Other members defended the party’s approach, given the relationship had begun when both were working in the Robertson federal office.

HONEYMOON OVER

Could the “teal” honeymoon be over?

That seems to be the view of Liberals in the northern Sydney seat of Mackellar held by teal independent Sophie Scamps where a conga-line of prospective candidates has formed in anticipation of nominations being called.

Among the names doing the rounds are military veteran and Malcolm Turnbull’s former son-in-law James Brown, disability campaigner Dave Brady, well-known northern beaches Liberal Lincoln Parker, Paul Nettlebeck – who previously nominated for Bradfield – and local councillor Bianca Crvelin.

The Sauce was told that former Liberal Mackellar MP Jason Falinski was also a possibility – but we have since confirmed that he won’t be a starter.

Is the honeymoon over for Sophie Scamps in Mackellar. Picture; Supplied

As for Dr Scamps, her victory at the last federal election caught Liberal Party officials by surprise with many expecting her to reduce the margin, but not take the seat.

However, one local Liberal said she was on shaky ground given there would not be an “anti-Scott Morrison” factor in play this time.

Pointing to scores of posters around the electorate, the source claimed Dr Scamps was acutely aware of her tenuous hold on the seat.

“She has about 100 posters up,” the source said.

“It would be costing about $500 each a week – or $50,000 all up.”

Dr Scamps is also paying 30 local residents $140 each to participate in a “Mackellar People’s Jury On Housing” to come up with three federal government policies to be used to tackle the housing crisis.

A flyer that has been obtained by The Sauce shows the people’s jury will meet on June 15 at a fully catered, all-day event at Miramare Gardens in Terrey Hills.

“The aim is to achieve a broad consensus on three policy priorities that I can advocate for in Canberra,” Dr Scamps wrote.

AYRES OF INTRIGUE

Former NSW Liberal minister Stuart Ayres has snared a new highly paid CEO job – and it’s fair to say eyebrows have been raised.

The board of the Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW last week appointed Ayres as its chief executive officer, a gig that we hear carries a salary of $300,000-plus.

Stuart Ayres has a new job. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The role had been filled in an acting capacity by Gavin Melvin – a former Coalition chief-of-staff who has worked for former minister Kevin Anderson and also ex-premier Mike Baird – who made it to the final two candidates.

More than a few on the Labor side of politics contacted The Sauce to express their puzzlement at why the UDIA would appoint Ayres as the organisation sought inroads to the government to advance its causes.

“As especially puzzling appointment when you consider the new Labor government’s agenda is more aligned with builders and developers than the former Liberal government, of which Stuart Ayres was a senior minister,” one Labor figure messaged The Sauce.

Another Labor source noted how UDIA has been lobbying the Minns government to establish a co-ordinating authority to sort out the “aeroflopolis” mess out at Badgerys Creek, where development has been hampered by delays.

“Ayres was the Minister for Western Sydney and now he will be lobbying the Labor government to fix the mess his government created,” the source said.

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