NSW State politics: Mary-Lou Jarvis, Kellie Sloane and Roanne Knox in battle for Vaucluse

The battle for Liberal preselection for the seat of Vaucluse is shaping up to be a contest between three high-profile women, as Woollahra mayor Susan Wynne reveals she will be stepping away from public life.

Longstanding Woollahra mayor Susan Wynne has bowed out of the race to replace Vaucluse Liberal MP Gabrielle Upton, as the party contest shapes up to be a battle between three high-profile women.

Woollahra councillor Mary-Lou Jarvis, former journalist Kellie Sloane and businesswoman Roanne Knox have been confirmed for preselection by the party’s nomination review committee.

The tightening race within the NSW Liberals follows the exclusive revelation by the Wentworth Courier that former political strategist Karen Freyer will be running as an independent for the seat amid pressure to replace Ms Upton with a woman.

Ms Wynne told the Courier after five years as mayor, three as deputy mayor and a combined 16 years in politics she was ready to explore other avenues.

The well-liked mayor said she had submitted nomination forms but had ultimately chosen not to proceed.

Woollahra mayor Susan Wynne will leave local politics next year. Picture: John Appleyard

“It was a big decision for me,” she said, noting she had already confirmed she will leave local politics after her term as mayor ends in September. “I decided a couple of weeks ago after a lot of consideration that I’ve actually done politics for a long time and I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved as mayor.”

Ms Jarvis had previously flagged in July she would nominate for the Vaucluse state seat. The former environmental lawyer and Woollahra deputy mayor has been vocal in calling for the party to take women seriously.

Mary-Lou Jarvis has spoken up about the need for the party to put their women first. Picture: Newscorp Daily Telegraph / Gaye Gerard.

The high-profile Liberal had stepped down from her role as president of the party’s NSW Women’s Council to focus on her state political ambitions.

She is now pushing for the party to correct the mistakes that saw affluent female candidates run as teal independents to overthrow Liberal men at May’s federal election.

Ms Sloane confirmed she had officially been confirmed as a candidate for preselection but could not comment under party rules.

The journalist-turned-executive, who previously ran for the state seat of Willoughby, has been assessing the federal loss for former Wentworth MP Dave Sharma for the party’s internal election post-mortem.

Former journalist Kellie Sloane will contest the Vaucluse seat. Photo: Damian Shaw

Local businesswoman Roanne Knox has also been confirmed for preselection.

Former management consultant and founder of a teen fashion label Ms Knox joined the Liberal party in July after Ms Upton resigned. She is the wife of one of Australia’s top investment bankers, Credit Suisse’s John Knox.

Export Council of Australia director Cristina Talako, and former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s daughter Daisy Turnbull have previously been floated as potential candidates.

Richard Shields will not contest the seat.

Woollahra councillor Richard Shields has confirmed to the Courier he is not contesting for the seat.

Ms Turnbull, who has been instrumental in the recent opening of the first Lifeline crisis support centre in the eastern suburbs, has previously brushed away questions about whether she would follow her friend Allegra Spender into politics as a Liberal candidate.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has repeatedly said he wants Liberals to “do better” when it comes to gender equality.

“The preselection process is a matter for the NSW Liberal Party, they will conduct that preselection and whoever is selected has big shoes to fill,” he said when Ms Upton announced she would vacate the seat at the 2023 election.

“I don’t think the party has done well in the past in terms of preselecting high calibre high quality women for parliament … we need to do better.”