Warringah: Liberal preselection stoush gets ugly as party members revolt
An image of a purported graffiti attack on a Liberal office over Warringah preselection delays signals a revolt by frustrated party members.
Manly
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A bitter internal Liberal stoush about choosing candidates for the looming federal election has turned ugly on the northern beaches.
An image of handpainted posters purportedly plastered on the Liberal Party’s office at Balgowlah, calling for a preselection vote “now” and for senior party office holders to resign, has been circulating among local rank and file members.
The office, called “Liberal House Warringah”, on Sydney Rd, was opened in December 2020 by Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Senator Andrew Bragg, the federal government’s duty senator for Warringah to maintain a Liberal presence in the electorate after the independent Ms Steggall defeated veteran MP and former prime minster Tony Abbott in 2019.
Ms Payne said at the opening that she hoped the new office would become “a hub of Liberal activity in this part of Warringah”. Local party insiders say it was supposed to be a de facto campaign headquarters to defeat Ms Steggall. There were no staff in it on Friday.
The image shows a hand written poster saying “Plebiscite Now” — a reference to the preselection vote local party members want so they can have a say in choosing who represented the Liberal in Warringah at the election, expected in late May.
Another poster states “Ruddock Stone Out”, a reference to the Liberals state president Philip Ruddock and state director Chris Stone.
They have been criticised over the internal party row about the state executive installing candidates in electorates or allowing the local membership to chose who they want to run.
The Manly Daily understands that the main causes of the delays have been the unsuccessful attempts at wooing former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to run against Ms Steggall, as well as last minute nominations and withdrawals.
There are three official Liberal preselection candidates in Warringah: Disability campaigner David Brady, who is from outside the electorate; Katherine Deves, a solicitor and outspoken advocate for strict definitions of biological sex in sport who entered the race two weeks ago and; international defence analyst Lincoln Parker, from Queenscliff, who nominated to be the Liberal candidate back in January.
Ms Deves was able to nominate after the state executive passed a motion to reopen nominations in Warringah.
Local frustrations have been growing that the preselection vote has been delayed too long and will not give the successful candidate enough tine to property build a campaign to beat Ms Steggall.
There are also concerns that the Liberal state executive may still make a decision to install a candidate it wants.
“These posters on the Liberal party office epitomise the total frustration of the rank and file of the party in Warringah,” a senior Liberal insider said.
“The members are bracing themselves for a candidate to be forced on them because the dominant moderate faction feels it is losing control.
“If that happens, it will cause total anarchy.”
Party insiders say Ms Deves is non-factional, but was now was receiving “good support from the centre main stream section of the party” as well as some conservative.
Insiders also say Mr Parker, who chairs the Liberal Party (NSW) Defence & National Security Policy Branch; has worked in defence research and technology development and; is a regular media commentator on national security issues, has been making a good impression at recent branch meetings as he tries to convince members he should be their candidate.
Mr Brady is getting the backing of the moderate group in the party.
A spokeswoman for Senator Bragg said preselections were a “matter for the party”.
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