NSW election 2023: Northern beaches Liberals still sorting out candidates

Just four months out from a state election the Liberals on the northern beaches are still trying to sort out their candidates as a popular female minister fails to win a place on the ballot.

Speculation is growing that popular Northern Beaches councillor Rory Amon may have to fight off a challenge from a female political hopeful to win the right to represent the Liberals in Pittwater at the next state election.

It had been understood that Cr Amon would not have to face a preselection vote to become the Liberal candidate for the safe seat, to be vacated by sitting MP Rob Stokes.

But in the wake of the defeat of Roads Minister Natalie Ward in the Davidson preselection ballot on Monday night, it is understood some in the Liberal party are keen to see a female candidate in Pittwater in an effort to boost its female MP numbers in the lower house.

Minister for Women's Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence, Natalie Ward, with Minister for Multiculturalism,Mark Coure address the media last week. Ms Ward was unsuccessful in her bid to run a the next election n the seat of Davidson. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

The candidacy of lawyer Claire Longley, the daughter of former Pittwater MP Jim Longley, may be re-energised, party insiders say.

Ms Longley may the endorsed by party head office as the candidate or the nominations could be reopened, but it is unlikely.

It has been rumoured that she has not been able to nominate due an issue with her party membership and it is understood that the deadline for preselection nominations in Pittwater has passed.

Cr Amon became the front runner when Families and Communities Minister Natasha Maclaren-Jones, who sits in the upper house, withdrew from the preselection the race last month.

Liberal Northern Beaches Councillor Rory Amon is considered to have the nukbers to be preselected as the Liberal candidate for Pittwater. Picture: Adam Yip/ Manly Daily

“Rory’s been seen as a future NSW Cabinet Minister, has been working the electorate for years and has overwhelming local support,” a Liberal insider said on Tuesday.

“But the party’s State Executive is apparently scrambling to see how it can get women into the equation.

“Rory’s got the numbers in all the local branches, but the party has yet to have an endorsement meeting to make him the candidate.

“If they tried to parachute another person in, half the Liberal party would walk.”

Minister for Families and Communities, Natasha Maclaren-Jones withdrew from the Pittwater preselection contest. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

If the party wanted a woman, the state executive would have to invoke special powers to reopen the preselection.

But 90pc of the State Executive would have to agree.

The insider also said the Liberals were still no closer to endorsing a candidate in Wakehurst, either by rank and file membership preselections or a special State Executive endorsement.

It is understood that preselection nominations have opened in Wakehurst, where sitting MP Brad Hazzard is retiring st the election.

Toby Williams, Mr Hazzard’s senior electorate officer, who is active on community group including as President of the Manly Warringah Football Referees Association and on the boards of local registered clubs, has indicated he would nominate.

In this picture from 2007, Former Pittwater MP Jim Longley (left) , Rob and Sophie Stokes and Robert Dunn meet after Mr Stokes’ inaugural speech to parliament. Picture: Martin Lange

Well-known Liberal branch member Wendy Finianos is likely to put her name forward.

Ms Finianos, a former fundraising manager with Lifeline Northern Beaches and a former Warringah Chamber of Commerce president, sought preselection in Wakehurst before the 2018 election.

But another insider said the reason why selection of Liberal candidates in Wakehurst and Pittwater for the March election had not yet occurred was due to the fact that Mr Stokes and Mr Hazzard only recently announced their retirement from politics.

The insider said it takes time to organise candidate preselections which includeded checking that hundreds of party members met the criteria to be able to vote.

Ms Ward, an upper house MP, lost the preselection contest in Davidson to former premier Mike Baird’ s ex-staffer Matt Cross. The Liberal Party has seven female MPs in the lower house.