NSW politics: Liberal candidate Kellie Sloane defends progressive policy platform

Liberal candidate for Vaucluse Kellie Sloane weighed in on development concerns as the Premier rejected claims Liberal policies would struggle in the progressive electorate.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet speaks to the media along with Liberal Party candidate for Vaucluse Kellie Sloane. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

Freshly announced Liberal candidate for Vaucluse, Kellie Sloane, argued her preselection showed the progressive credentials of NSW Liberals, when she joined Premier Dominic Perrottet on Sunday for her official campaign launch.

The premier and Ms Sloane spoke with residents enjoying their morning coffee in the laneways of Double Bay – and pushed back on suggestions the Liberal Party was currently failing on its promise to run more women at the state election in March 2023.

When asked if Ms Sloane could run into the same issues as former Wentworth MP Dave Sharma, who was unseated by ‘teal’ independent Allegra Spender, Mr Perrottet responded, “Our values are progressive”.

He said Ms Sloane has the “determination, the passion, the drive” to “make a real difference” in NSW.

“It’s hard to find people who want to put their hand up to run for public office.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet speaks to the media along with Liberal Party candidate for Vaucluse Kellie Sloane. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

“So for someone like Kellie with 20 years of journalism experience, a strong professional, a mother of three and eastern suburbs local to put her hand up and be part of the Liberal team is great,” the premier said.

Vaucluse encompasses the Wentworth federal electorate, which Spender won in a shock victory on a climate and integrity-focused platform.

The former TV journalist – who ran to replace Gladys Berejiklian in the seat of Willoughby last year – name-checked overdevelopment as a key issue.

Ms Sloane was preselected by party members last week.

Candidate for Vaucluse Kellie Sloadspeaks with members of the public along with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

“One of the strongest concerns I’m hearing from people in the community is overdevelopment,” Ms Sloane said.

She said of LGAs such as Woollahra that have exceeded their targets; “I don’t think we should be punished down the track building more houses.”

Woollahra Council reached its dwelling targets set by the state government for 2016-2021, with data indicating it will also exceed its target of 500 dwellings for 2021-26 by 140.

“I’ve got kids that are growing up in this community, I want them to have a home here as well,” Ms Sloane said.

“It’s important to get the balance right.

I’m really excited to be a Liberal candidate for a government that represents strong professional women.”

Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

Concern around perceived overdevelopment remains a hot-button issue across the eastern suburbs.

While accusations have been levelled that affluent residents have used their clout to oppose the ambitious housing targets set for all Sydney LGAs, the issue has emerged as a rare point of unanimous agreement inside local councils.

Councils are wrestling with cumulative loss of control over planning instruments to NSW.

Bondi Junction has undergone rapid transformation. Photo: NSW Real Estate.

Woollahra’s Greens and Liberal councillors joined forces at a recent meeting to back a motion for Mayor Susan Wynne to demand a meeting with the planning and homes Minister to raise concerns around how ‘local character’ provisions would be upheld in state court determinations on new developments.

In September, Waverley Council’s Labor Mayor, Paula Masselos, slammed the state governments’ approval of a controversial 73-apartment double tower next to Centennial Park, denouncing NSW’s treatment of council as “another department [where] the state government can raid our piggy banks”.

Woollahra resident Nikki Vos outside Woolworths Double Bay.

Speaking at her campaign launch in October, Vaucluse teal independent challenger Karen Freyer said she would take the community’s concerns around development to Macquarie Street as an advocate free from party allegiance.

Eastern suburbs resident Nikki Vos admitted she was light on details about the newly-announced Liberal when she congratulated her on preselection Sunday morning, but said she looked forward to hearing more from the new candidate.

“I do like Perrottet a lot too,” Ms Vos said.

Ms Vos said she was pleased to see another woman standing in the seat held by long standing Vaucluse MP Gabrielle Upton, who is retiring next year.