Doug Rennie: Libertarian Party candidate set to sway Pittwater by-election vote

Liberal Party insiders have expressed fears about the impact an “entrepreneur” pushing for fewer taxes and greater rights for individuals will have on an upcoming NSW by-election.

Doug Rennie, of Avalon Beach, is the Libertarian Party candidate for the Pittwater by-election on Saturday. Picture: Supplied

A candidate advocating for “small” government, fewer taxes and greater rights for individuals is set to have a significant impact at one of this weekend’s by-elections, with Liberals fearing the “entrepreneur” will take votes away from their party.

Doug Rennie, standing for the Libertarian Party at the Pittwater poll on Saturday, is also a believer in “education, not indoctrination”.

Mr Rennie, an Avalon Beach resident who reckons politics and ideology have “crept into NSW classrooms”, has a slim chance of winning the northern beaches seat but is expected to draw vital votes away from the Liberal candidate, Georgia Ryburn.

Ms Ryburn, who was a councillor and deputy mayor on Northern Beaches Council until last month, holds an ultra-slim margin over independent candidate Jacqui Scruby.

A Liberal Party insider said the injection of Mr Rennie into the three-cornered contest may tip the final result to the independent.

The Liberal candidate in the Pittwater by-election, Georgia Ryburn. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Saturday’s by-election was triggered by the resignation of Pittwater’s former Liberal MP, Rory Amon, who quit the NSW parliament when he was arrested and charged in August with 10 child sex offences. Amon has vowed to defend the charges.

The Liberal insider said Mr Rennie’s decision to run was “not helpful to Georgia”.

Jacqui Scruby, an independent candidate for the state seat of Pittwater at Saturday’s by-election. Picture: Supplied

“It will have a potential impact given that the party’s highest profile member is John Ruddick, who sits in the upper house of the parliament.”

Mr Ruddick was a senior figure in the Liberal Party, who once sat on its NSW state executive and quit the party in 2021 after a falling out over internal party processes.

“Ruddick is directing strategy in the by-election,” the Liberal insider said.

“These people are not running to support the Liberals in Pittwater, that’s certain.

“Sadly, the Libertarian will do more damage to Georgia’s chances than to Jacqui Scruby’s.”

Mr Rennie agreed he would attract some disaffected Liberal voters who had concerns with the way the party had been managed in recent months, including the local council election nomination debacle.

“They just can’t trust the (Liberal candidate) at the moment and are looking at me to make the difference and take action.”

Mr Rennie, who described himself as an “an entrepreneur in the water, electricity, gas and renewables industries”, said he would advocate for a “more sensible energy policy that prevents a focus on net zero” emission policies, which he said would “destroy nature and jobs”.

Doug Rennie, the Libertarian Party candidate for the Pittwater by-election said he had “become increasingly concerned by the deception and fear created by one-sided narratives from corporations, government, the bureaucracy, and the mainstream media”. Picture: Supplied

“We don’t want to put thousands of solar panels all over our beautiful landscape, which is just going to destroy agriculture and our food security,” he said.

“It’s time to put aside fairytale net zero targets and prioritise the wellbeing of families by supplying affordable, reliable energy.”

Mr Rennie told this masthead his party’s policy to cut red tape for small business had been popular with local voters to whom he had spoken.

“Lots of shop owners and business people are just screaming out for some relief,” he said.

In his campaign material, Mr Rennie stated he had “become increasingly concerned by the deception and fear created by one-sided narratives from corporations, government, the bureaucracy, and the mainstream media”.

“People don’t want too much control or intervention from government,” he told this masthead.

“The just want to get on with their lives.”