Showdown on Macquarie St: NSW liberals splitting as tensions grow over party leadership

While some are showing loyalty the Liberal leader, there are some who believe he’s already ‘dead in the water’. Here’s how the votes may fall if a spill is called. Who should lead them? Take our poll.

Rachel Merton publicly declared she did not agree with the party’s energy position.

Liberal leader Mark Speakman has ­declared he will “absolutely not” be standing down, as factional power­brokers crunch the numbers for leadership contenders Kellie Sloane and Alister Henskens.

As Liberal leadership chatter intensified in the wake of the shock resignation of Nationals boss Dugald Saunders and a leadership spill in ­Victoria, chatter about a spill continued to swirl on Tuesday.

However, Mr Speakman — who, despite the party chaos made time for a skin check — made it clear that he would not be going without a fight.

Asked if he would be standing aside, Mr Speakman said: “Absolutely not”.

Talk of a potential spill erupted late last week after backers for Mr Henskens began approaching MPs to enlist their support.

Supporters for Ms Sloane said she continued to hold the majority of votes.

However, the Vaucluse MP has pledged her support for Mr Speakman and is expected to nominate only if he vacated.

The leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman gets a skin cancer check at The Australian Skin Cancer Foundation mobile truck with Nurse Dermoscopist Sue Bibby on November 18, 2025. Photo: Gaye Gerard

While Mr Henskens has fewer votes than Ms Sloane, his backers claim there are moderate and centre-right faction MPs in her camp who have ­privately told Mr Henskens they will be supporting him.

Even if Mr Henskens cannot reach a majority, there is a view his conservative group might still initiate a spill to “blow Kellie up” – that is, have her lead the party to the next election and be forced to stand down in the event of a loss, leaving the top job open for a right-winger to take.

NSW Liberal Leader, Mark Speakman said he would fight to keep the leadership. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

There is also still the potential for the chances of a leadership challenge to fizzle out after an “uneventful” ­party room meeting on Tuesday.

Following a marathon discussion on net zero at the meeting, Mr Speakman asked MPs if anyone had “any urgent items for general business”.

In a sign no-one wanted to throw a cat among the pigeons, no-one raised the topic.

Instead, Upper House MP Aileen MacDonald took the opportunity to note the “primary industries policy branch” was meeting in the ­parliament this week.

Ms Sloane has long been a reluctant leadership contender, although is understood to be open to nominating should the top job become open.

Moderate MPs who are expected to fall behind Ms Sloane are also sticking by Mr Speakman, leaving it up to the right faction to make a move.

“We are supporting Mark as leader and we will not be calling for a spill,” one moderate MP said.

“The moderates will never tear down one of their own.”

Among several conservative MPs, the view was different, with one declaring Mr Speakman “dead in the water”.

“Someone has to tell him the dogs are pissing on his swag,” the MP said.

Ms Sloane is understood to be open to nominating. Pics by Julian Andrews

Tensions among MPs rose on Monday after the shock resignation of Nationals leader Dugald Saunders, with ­several Liberals speculating that the move could kick off a spill in ­Tuesday’s party room meeting.

A leadership spill in Victoria also ­intensified chatter among MPs on Tuesday about whether to “press the button”, including requesting Mr Speakman to hold a special party room meeting later this week.

The inertia among MPs has frustrated party elders, who believe that a decision must be made to either get ­behind Mr Speakman or choose a new leader.

Mr Alister Henskens. Picture: Damian Shaw

Down in Victoria, less than 18 hours after news broke of a looming leadership challenge for Brad Battin, first-term MP Jess Wilson emerged as the state’s new opposition leader.

Meanwhile, Nationals MPs elected Gurmesh Singh following Mr Saunders’ resignation.

In a separate headache for Mr Speakman, one of his Liberal colleagues publicly declared she did not agree with the party’s energy position.

Upper House MP Rachel Merton publicly dis. NewsWire / Simon Bullard.

“I do not support net zero. At least 10 of my colleagues echo the same views,” Upper House MP Rachel Merton said.

“The NSW Liberals should join with our federal Liberal colleagues in wanting to put ­affordable power at the centre of the energy debate,” Ms Merton said.

Mr Speakman and ­shadow energy minister James Griffin released a statement on Tuesday ­declaring the NSW Liberals ­“remain committed to a target of net zero by 2050”.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]

Originally published as Showdown on Macquarie St: NSW liberals splitting as tensions grow over party leadership