Wakehurst: Liberal candidate Toby Williams steps down from registered clubs’ roles

The Liberal candidate for a northern beaches seat has decided to sever his ties with the registered club industry while campaigning for the state election.

The Liberal Party has officially endorsed Toby Williams as its candidate for Wakehurst at the March state election — but he’s decided to sever his ties with the registered club industry as a result.

Mr Williams, a senior electorate staffer with retiring MP Brad Hazzard, has resigned from two leading roles with local clubs as well as positions with the peak lobbying body, Clubs NSW.

He is no longer on the Board of Directors at Dee Why RSL Club and has stepped aside as vice-chair of the Harbord Bowling and Recreation Club.

Mr Williams, who was endorsed by his party on Monday after winning a preselection vote against local businesswoman Wendy Finianos on January 21, has also stepped down as a state councillor with ClubsNSW and as president of its Northern Metropolitan Region.

Official campaign photograph of Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan who is running as an independent candidate in the seat of Wakehurst at the March 2023 state election. Picture: Supplied

He said he resigned from these positions to ensure his time was dedicated to “engaging with the Wakehurst community in the lead up to the election”.

“I had no hesitation in resigning my voluntary roles with Dee Why RSL Club, Harbord Bowling Club and ClubsNSW,” he said.

“This was the right decision to make.

“I’m fully committed to demonstrating to the electors of Wakehurst that I am the best person to continue to deliver for our community and I am backing the Premier as he embarks on generational gaming reform across NSW.”

The Perrottet state government is set to release its response to a 2022 Crime Commission report into money laundering through poker machines before the March 25 election.

However Premier Dominic Perrottet is yet to provide details of his upcoming cashless gaming card policy as part of wider poker machine reform.

Toby Williams, the Liberal candidate in Wakehurst at the March 2023 election, has stepped down from four roles with the NSW clubs industry. Picture: Supplied

Mr Perrottet has repeatedly said his government would impose a cashless gaming card statewide.

Mr Williams will be up against veteran Northern Beaches mayor Michael Regan who announced last Friday that he was running as an independent in what is considered a blue ribbon Liberal seat.

Others vying for the seat are Ethan Hrnjak from the Greens and Labor’s Sue Wright. No other independents or parties have come forward.

Ethan Hrnjak, the Greens candidate for Wakehurst. Picture: Jacqui Turner.

In early January, the Teal independent movement announced it was no longer looking for a candidate to run in Wakehurst

Organisers said they couldn’t find a “suitably competitive” candidate who could grab Wakehurst at the March 25 poll.

Mr Williams has long term community ties including being president of the Manly Warringah Football Referees Association and is a life member with the Warringah Amateur Swimming Association and Warringah Aquatic Centre Swimming Club where he was an official and administrator.

Sue Wright, the Labor candidate for Wakehurst at the 2023 NSW election. Picture: Supplied

He said, if elected, he would build on Mr Hazzard’s strong legacy in a Perrottet Government.

“We have been fortunate to have Brad Hazzard as our Member for Wakehurst for the past 32 years,” Mr Williams said. “He has guided NSW through the COVID-19 pandemic but has also delivered vital local infrastructure, including Northern Beaches Hospital, Brookvale Community Health Centre, Warringah Road underpass and the B-Line bus service.

“The people of Wakehurst deserve committed representation and I intend to be a strong advocate.”