North Shore by-election: Liberal preselection panel includes controversial ex-Hurstville mayor Con Hindi, sources reveal
CONTROVERSIAL former Hurstville mayor Con Hindi is set to be joined by two family members at the selection night for the Liberal’s North Shore by-election candidate.
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CONTROVERSIAL former Hurstville mayor Con Hindi will help decide the Liberal party’s candidate for the North Shore by-election, sources have revealed.
It is understood that two other members of the Hindi family, his wife Miray and son Malcolm, will be at a preselection event this Wednesday night in North Sydney.
The trio are set to be part of a 210-strong group that will choose the potential next MP for North Shore.
A Liberal party source revealed their names were pulled out of a hat to take part in the crucial decision making process.
“It’s just a random draw,” the source said.
“It is what it is. They are members of the party and their names were drawn out of a hat.”
The selectors will also include local Liberal party members.
Mr Hindi’s behaviour has attracted the attention of the Office of Local Government.
The OLG investigated the suspension of Victor Lampe from the position of general manager at Hurstville Council, which has since been merged.
He was suspended at the time the council was considering alleged breaches of conditions in relation to a property owned by Mr Hindi.
In November Mr Hindi won an appeal against an OLG decision to suspend him for two months. The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal found that Mr Hindi did not breach the council’s code of conduct, nor had he engaged in any misconduct.
Five hopefuls are in the running for the backing from the Liberal party: Tim James, Jessica Keen, Anna McPhee, Felicity Wilson and Ted Wziontek.
It has been reported that a messy factional fight has broken out within the party as opposing sides battle to get their preferred candidate selected.
Mr James has the backing of the right faction, while it is understood Ms Wilson has the moderates on her side.
Ms Wilson is understood to have been endorsed by moderate MPs at a dinner last week and is believed to be close to powerbrokers Michael Photios and Don Harwin. She was selected by the moderates over Ms Keen, favoured by the retired North Shore MP Jillian Skinner.
Meanwhile, Premier Gladys Berejiklian was on the campaign trail at the weekend and was photographed with Mr James in Mosman.
“Terrific to be out campaigning with @GladysB in #NorthShore this morning. Here at Mosman Junction. Working hard for local people,” he tweeted.
He and his team were wearing T-shirts emblazoned with her name.
A spokeswoman for the NSW Liberals said that the party doesn’t comment on internal matters.
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