Senior Liberals in talks to recruit Zali Steggall in attempt to win back Warringah

Senior Liberals are in talks about trying to entice Zali Steggall to join the party in a bid to turn Warringah blue once more.

Zali Steggall was in Canberra for her first week this week. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

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Senior Liberals are in talks about trying to entice Zali Steggall to join the party in a bid to turn Warringah blue once more.

Party sources have said several informal discussions and briefings have been had since the Olympian ended Tony Abbott’s 25 year tenure in May.

“There definitely have been people reaching out to Zali from the Liberal Party,” one source told the Manly Daily.

“And there have been discussions among senior Liberals which haven’t been minuted about getting her to join.”

Independent MP Zali Steggall was only sworn in this week yet already there are talk about the next election. Picture Kym Smith

Another source added: “There’s a lot of discussions happening at the moment. One does involve looking at whether she would like to come across.”

While not flatly ruling it out, Ms Steggall told the Manly Daily yesterday that she was best able to represent Warringah as an independent.

“I believe strongly that I am best able to represent the views and concerns of Warringah from the cross bench,” she said. “I am committed to working with the government and opposition and holding them to account on important issues.”

Ms Steggall has indicated she has voted Liberal at state elections on several occasions including for James Griffin at this year’s election.

However, she has not voted Liberal at the federal level given her opposition to Tony Abbott.

A senior Liberal source said she ticked many of the boxes as a future Liberal Warringah MP.

“She’s female, she has got that Queenwood (school) background, she is on the board. She’s also got the sporting background.”

Despite losing his seat Tony Abbott was back in the capital for the opening of parliament this week. Pictured with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and John Howard. Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

He added: “She particularly appeals to the moderate section of the party.

“The conservative side of the party would be against it. But the moderates, who are becoming more and more dominant on the northern beaches, would be in favour. She would absolutely fit the moderate model.

“Many Liberals are very pragmatic. Her joining would create more of a buffer. Seventy eight seats is better than 77.”

Roger Corbett, president of the Warringah Liberal Federal Electorate Conference, told the Manly Daily he would not rule in or rule out the possibility of Ms Steggall being enticed over to stand for the Liberal Party.

“That is something for the time and we’ll wait and see what happens,” the former Abbott ally said.

“I’m not ruling it out or ruling it in. I’m just making no further comment about it.”

Another senior Liberal source said talks were already happening, adding that it made sense for all parties.

Roger Corbett said he would not rule it in or out. Hollie Adams/The Australian

“It is being driven in large part by the view that she will be pretty ineffectual given the way the numbers are at the moment,” he said.

“So for her to come across and join the team she could achieve some good outcomes. For her it might be an electoral saviour and secure her as the member for the future.”

The source added: “Some of the more sensible heads in the Warringah Liberal Party can see there is a lot of water that has got to go under the bridge between now and when you select a candidate.

“All options are being kept open and one of them is Zali.”

Ms Steggall spent her first week in Canberra after having been sworn in on Tuesday.

Speaking to the Daily she added: “As an independent, I will be guided at all times by the wishes of my community and I look forward to being their strong independent voice on important issues such as climate change, mental health, family and domestic violence, aged care and disability support services.”