Melanie Gibbons nominates to contest Kiama for Liberals against Gareth Ward in State Election

The Liberals may have found a contender to run against colourful independent Gareth Ward, with a current MP nominating to help the party reclaim the seat.

The long-time Liberal Member for Holsworthy, Melanie Gibbons, has been lined up for a shock move to run in Kiama. Picture: Damian Shaw

EXCLUSIVE: The race for the seat of Kiama has taken a dramatic twist with dumped Liberal MP Melanie Gibbons nominating to run as the party’s candidate in the key south coast electorate.

Ms Gibbons, who has represented the electorate of Holsworthy (previously Menai) since 2011, failed to win preselection to recontest the seat in November, last year.

Tina Ayyad, the wife of Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun, won preselection in Holsworthy 24 votes to Ms Gibbons’ 12.

Multiple senior Liberal sources have confirmed with NewsLocal Ms Gibbons has nominated to be the Liberal Party candidate on Tuesday, with her nomination confirmed before the 5pm deadline.

“All manner of Liberal VIPs have sought for Mel Gibbons to nominate to be the Liberal Party candidate in the electorate of Kiama,” one source told NewsLocal.

“This is not an effort to save face between the Liberals and Melanie after she lost her seat during preselection.

“This is a genuine attempt to not only win the seat for the Liberal party — but also return a respected and senior member of parliament any way we can.”

Ms Gibbons’ nomination comes less than a week after the party’s previous nominee, Gail Morgan, was withdrawn after emails emerged of her supporting Opposition Leader Chris Minns.

Melanie Gibbons has held the seat of Holsworthy (previously Menai) since 2011

Ms Gibbons enters a three-way race with Liberal-turned-independent incumbent Gareth Ward and Labor candidate Kaitlin McInerney.

Mr Ward is subject to court proceedings after being charged with indecently assaulting a 17-year-old in 2013 and sexually abusing a 27-year-old man in 2015.

Mr Ward has denied all the allegations and pleaded not guilty to each charge in court.

Mr Ward moved to the crossbench after he was subject to the charges.

On Monday, Premier Dominic Perrottet said “We’ll have a candidate in Kiama, and we’re going to win it.“

“We won’t be entering into deals with Gareth Ward if he’s elected the member for Kiama,” Mr Perrottet said.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward could be barred from parliament once more if re-elected. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate given both sides of politics moved to unanimous motion to suspend him from parliament just a few months ago.”

Labor leader Chris Minns also confirmed he would move to bar Mr Ward if elected.

The shock move comes after Ms Gibbons has previously sought out the prospect of running for the NSW Upper House as well as in the federal seat of Hughes.

Speaking on Wednesday, NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has refused to say whether or not his party will preference embattled Kiama independent Gareth Ward over the Labor candidate in that electorate.

When pressed, Mr Kean refused to directly answer questions about preferences in Kiama.

“We‘re fighting to win Kiama, because only a Liberal candidate will be fighting for a long term economic plan to ensure that we’re able to weather the significant economic headwinds that we’re facing,” he said.

The Treasurer was also unable to commit to going on the hustings alongside his party‘s candidate, Melanie Gibbons, in the seat.

Ms Gibbons was parachuted in after losing preselection in her southwest Sydney seat of Holsworthy, despite also previously being named a possible candidate for the upper house ticket.

“I‘ll be campaigning for all Liberal candidates across New South Wales,” he said, when asked if he felt obligated to campaign for Ms Gibbons.

Ms Gibbons told NewsLocal she wasn’t able to comment on the ongoing situation.

Deadlines for candidate registration with the NSW Electoral Commission is on March 8.