NSW election 2023: Liberals pick poet, author Gail Morgan to contest Kiama against Gareth Ward

The Liberals are set to pick an author and poet to take on newly-turned independent Gareth Ward in the seat of Kiama.

Premier Dominic Perrottet vowed the Liberals would win Kiama, but was not drawn into questions about preferences for Gareth Ward. Picture: Gary Ramage

The Liberals are set to endorse an author and poet to take on former party member and newly-turned independent Gareth Ward for the state seat of Kiama.

South coast local Gail Morgan, by virtue of being the only nominee, is set to be endorsed by the Liberals imminently as its candidate in Kiama. It is understood Ms Morgan was granted a waiver by the party’s state executive to run, given she has not been a party member for six months.

As with all Liberal preselections, Ms Morgan’s official endorsement is reliant on passing the necessary checks set by the party’s nomination review committee. She was, however, the only nominee for the candidacy after the deadline closed on Friday.

Incumbent Mr Ward confirmed on Friday he would stand as an independent candidate in Kiama, despite being suspended from parliament following allegations of historic sexual assault which arose last year. In a statement announcing his campaign he said: “bring it on”.

An author and poet, Ms Morgan is on friendly terms with Mr Ward and Shoalhaven Liberal deputy mayor Paul Ell.

Gail Morgan, who is expected to be the Liberal candidate for Kiama.

One local Liberal source said Ms Morgan was there to exist on paper, while another described the political hopeful as “local and quantifiable”.

Ms Morgan is the author of A Promise of Rain, Walk to Kulentufu and Patent Lies, among others. According to her website, she grew up in Sydney’s Inner West before spending time abroad and in the bush, settling in the south coast in 2001.

Paul Ell (right) and Gareth Ward (centre) during the federal campaign.

Former UAP candidate and army veteran Benjamin Britton had filed nomination papers to be the Liberals’ candidate before the deadline passed on Friday, although he was not granted a waiver to proceed his nomination.

Mr Britton ran as the UAP’s candidate in the south coast electorate of Cunningham at May’s federal election and, although he had filed the requisite papers, his campaign was viewed as a longshot within the local Kiama branch.

“I’ve never seen him, I’ve never spoken to him, I don’t know anything about him and he’s never been to a branch meeting,” a source close to the Kiama Liberals said.

Premier Dominic Perrottet had previously vowed the Liberals would win the seat although when asked on Sunday if the Liberals would preference Mr Ward over Labor, he bulldozed past the question and insisted the Liberals would win the seat outright.

Ex-UAP Benjamin Britton was not granted a waiver to finalise his nomination. Picture: Dylan Arvela

“What I’m saying in relation to that is the Liberals will be running in Kiama and we’ll be winning that seat,” Mr Perrottet said, calling the matter of preferences “internal facing issues”.

“I’m not focused on that (preferences in Kiama). I’m focused on the people of western Sydney. I’m focused on delivering the support to people right across our state … We’re going to be running in Kiama and we’re going to win Kiama,” the premier said.

Labor announced its Kiama candidate – former journalist Katelin McInerney – in 2022.

Long-serving MP Mr Ward is charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of assault with an act of indecency and one of common assault.

He has entered not guilty pleas in the NSW District Court, where the matters will return this year.