NSW Liberal Party temporarily dissolved after months of factional infighting
The NSW Liberal Party will be temporarily dissolved and sitting MPs protected from preselection after months of factional infighting.
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Scott Morrison and Premier Dominic Perrottet will step in and run the NSW Liberal Party under a federal intervention order sparked by months of factional infighting.
The federal executive voted on Friday to intervene and try and resolve the mess with multiple candidates in key seats still not settled as a result of the mess, just weeks out from the expected announcement of a federal election.
The Prime Minister had backed the intervention if the NSW branch was unable to resolve the matter.
In a statement, the Liberal Party Federal Executive confirmed it has “resolved unanimously to intervene”.
A committee will now run the branch.
“The term of the appointment of the Committee commenced immediately upon the passing of this resolution and ends at 5.00pm on Tuesday 8 March 2022,” a spokesman said.
“The intervention ground is based on the circumstance that decisions have not been made in relation to the endorsement of three incumbent Liberal Members of Parliament as Liberal candidates to recontest their seats in the electorates of Farrer, North Sydney and Mitchell.
“The Committee may select and endorse a candidate for each of these seats.
“The Committee shall be comprised of Mrs Christine McDiven, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier Dominic Perrottet.
“The Federal Executive today also resolved unanimously to request the NSW Division of the Liberal Party to rectify the circumstance that candidates have not been selected and endorsed in other House of Representatives seats and for this to be resolved by Friday 25 March 2022.”
A spokesperson for the NSW Premier said his role on the committee had been delegated to Mark Coure.
“The Premier is currently focused on the floods and flood recovery”.
The decision means Liberal frontbencher Alex Hawke, who angered colleagues by failing to turn up to key meetings delaying the process will not face a challenge.
Liberal frontbencher Sussan Ley and Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman will contest the next election without facing a preselection.
However, furious Liberals who demanded rank and file votes have already signalled they will challenge the decision in the courts.
Originally published as NSW Liberal Party temporarily dissolved after months of factional infighting
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