North Sydney, Lane Cove Liberal candidates speak after-party HQ failed to meet critical elections deadline

A stuff-up by the NSW Liberal state office that robbed would-be councillors from contesting the looming local government election has left Sydney candidates “gutted”.

A stuff-up by the NSW Liberal state office that robbed would-be Liberal councillors from contesting next month’s local government election has left candidates ”devastated” and “gutted”.

It has also been revealed some candidates wanted to submit nomination paperwork themselves – however were advised by the party’s head office “they would take care it”.

In what has been described as a resourcing issue, the party’s state director has apologised after the secretariat failed to lodge nominations to the NSW electoral commission by the deadline, meaning candidates will be unable to run in the September 14 poll.

News of the error broke on Wednesday afternoon and has impacted multiple councils statewide, including Lane Cove and North Sydney.

Impacted candidates include Rory Burke, who has worked as a staffer for Lane Cove Liberal MP Anthony Roberts, intended to run in Lane Cove Council’s west ward.

Impacted councils include North Sydney.

Sitting Lane Cove Liberal councillor Katherine Mort has also been impacted.

She intended to recontest the central ward and said the error will “deny voters the right” to choose preferred candidates

In North Sydney, Sophie Lambert was intending to run as the Liberal candidate in the St Leonards ward.

Ms Lambert said she had wanted to submit nomination paperwork herself, but was told by the party’s head office they would take care of the process.

“It’s a gargantuan mess and personally devastating because there had been so much planning involved,” she said.

Lane Cove Liberal councillor Katherine Mort.

“It will also throw out the political balance for a lot of local government areas across the state.”

The error has not impacted North Sydney’s Cammerygal ward, with Liberal candidate Jess Keen confirming her paperwork had been submitted in time.

Back in Lane Cove, current Liberal mayor Scott Bennison has also been unaffected after he lost a preselection race to Mr Burke. Mr Bennison is now contesting the election as an independent.

Another Liberal candidate - who asked not to be named - said their campaign campaign had begun “kicking into gear” before he heard the “devastating” news.

“I’m gutted because I wanted to do this for my community,” the candidate said.

“More importantly, we’ve taken away people’s ability to voice their preferences in how they want their council to run over the next four years.

“I can’t comment on where the blame needs to be placed until the dust settles, but the big takeaways will be why wasn’t preselection done earlier and why wasn’t the paperwork submitted in time?

“I’ve spoken with people who have voted Liberal all their adult lives and they’re saying they now don’t have anyone to vote for.”

“The main options for voters will now be teal, Labor and the Greens.”