Bid to eject Hills Shire’s Liberal mayor, councillors: Factional plan to oust Michelle Byrne

A growing group of Liberal councillors, including a Sydney mayor, could be ousted from running in the upcoming elections — as factional warlords call to “cherrypick” new candidates.

Factional Liberal Party members have recommended Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne be ousted as a candidate in the December council elections — alongside the majority of her Liberal council team — in a move that would stop local party members from electing candidates.

Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne could face the chopping block by the Liberal Party.

The Liberal Party’s Local Government Oversight Committee were asked by the State Executive to make recommendations on a series of selection processes for as many as 10 councils across the state on Monday.

The recommendation by the “factionalised committee” would see Liberal Party State Executive “cherrypick candidates” to run at Local Government Elections on behalf of the party, rather than allowing Local Government Conference members from electing representatives for the roles on several councils.

Hills Shire Councillor Dr Peter Gangemi has been “cherrypicked” by the LGOC for Hills Mayor.

In The Hills, NewsLocal understands members of the LGOC recommended the Liberal State Executive install councillor Peter Gangemi as the mayoral candidate, while also returning councillors Alan Haselden and Mike Thomas.

Cr Gangemi declined to answer The Hills Shire Times’ question, citing “party rules”.

Hills Shire Councillor Mike Thomas has been recommended to run again.

Hills Shire Councillor Alan Haselden was recommended to return.

Despite assurances from a hard right Liberal source that The Hills would see “a predominantly female-led council with new candidates”, sitting Mayor Michelle Byrne, as well as councillors Elizabeth Russo and Reena Jethi were not recommended by the LGOC to be returned as candidates.

Cr Reena Jethi

Cr Elizabeth Russo.

Sources also confirmed Deputy Mayor Samuel Uno and councillors Brooke Collins, Frank De Masi and Jacob Jackson were not recommended by the committee to return.

“There is a lack of leadership and teamwork in the chamber, the current council is not fighting (for the big issues), let alone addressing the big issues that impact The Hills,” the source said.

Cr Samuel Uno. (AAP Image/CRAIG WILSON)

Cr Brooke Collins

While another Liberal Party member, who asked not be named, said: “There is that much disdain between the factions of the Liberal Party right now, they are voting out a female leader, and member of the State Executive, as mayor.”

Cr Frank De Masi. (AAP IMAGE / Angelo Velardo)

Cr Jacob Jackson.

Baulkham Hills state Liberal MP David Elliott said “any suggestion that the Councillors being targeted by the factional warlords have not advocated for my community are laughable”.

“I don’t even know the names of the faceless people being put forward so I can only assume that without a rank and file preselection the big losers will be local community,” Mr Elliott said.

In an email sent to representatives of The Hills Local Government Conference, president Brendon Jenkins said members “deserve to select our Liberal candidates for The Hills Shire Council election, to properly assess their capabilities and suitability to represent the Party and not to have State Executive impose faceless candidates on our conference and our community”.

“As a result of concerning reports emerging that State Executive may deny our conference a preselection and impose a ticket of faceless candidates on our conference and our community, the Committee of The Hills Local Government Conference has resolved to bring a motion to The Hills Local Government Conference opposing this course of action,” he said.

Liberal Party Headquarters on William Street in Sydney. Picture: Richard Dobson

NewsLocal understands Cr Byrne is being encouraged to run as an independent in the December elections, with party sources confirming members can apply for a waiver to do so.

The Hills Local Government Conference will call for a full state council meeting to address the issue on October 7.

All councillors were contacted for comment.