Dave Sharma ‘far better candidate’ as Liberal senate preselection autopsy begins

Newly selected senator Dave Sharma personally made hundreds of calls to delegates and emerged as the ‘far better candidate’.

Dave Sharma pictured in Sydney after winning the senate spot left by the retirement of Marise Payne.

Newly selected NSW Liberal senator Dave Sharma personally made hundreds of calls to delegates and emerged as the “far better candidate” on the night as the factional autopsy into the ex-MP’s surprise win began.

The former Wentworth MP was selected by NSW Liberal delegates at the party’s state convention on Sunday to replace retiring senator Marise Payne, beating presumed frontrunner Andrew Constance.

Mr Sharma received the requisite 251 votes to win in the eighth and final round of voting, tallying 295 votes once all preferences were counted, with the majority of former ACT senator Zed Seselja’s preferences filtering to the former MP.

A former Australian ambassador to Israel, Mr Sharma said time spent speaking to delegates “one-on-one” and a “distinct offering” of geopolitical experience secured him a surprise victory.

“These contests should not be predictable, it’s good for us a party that this one wasn’t,” Mr Sharma said.

Dave Sharma. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“I think there was a recognition that we’d lost some expertise and credibility in the geopolitical area.”

Mr Sharma said his “particular credentials” had become even more timely given the Israel Palestine war.

“I think delegates supported me because of the skills I could bring, particularly for the times we’re in,” he said.

The incoming senator said he was “very worried” about domestic economic challenges, deteriorating living standards and high cost of living.

“That’s important, we need to offer a credible alternative (to the Albanese government),” Mr Sharma said.

Mr Sharma said he was concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism since the onset of the war.

“Elements of this tragic and complicated conflict have been imported into Australia, which we haven’t seen before,” he said, saying the Jewish community had been “marginalised and demonised”.

“I’m worried about their safety, but also the precedent it sets for other communities in the future.

“We need to ensure people can express a political opinion without it crossing a line into vilification or incitement – which we’ve seen multiple times during this conflict.”

The preselection had seemed Warren Mundine’s to lose, before the No advocate ruled himself out after comments about land treaties alienated some of the Liberal base.

It then appeared as if Mr Constance, previously Transport Minister in the Baird and Berejiklian governments, had the numbers.

Andrew Constance. Picture: Monique Harmer

The Australian reported how senior moderate figures had pledged their support to Mr Constance. A large chuck of that base, however, deserted him.

A senior Liberal source from the moderate faction, however, refuted it was a “coup”.

“A lot went into the room and voted for Dave, who was a better candidate and more impressive,” the source said. “That’s the long and short of it.”

The source said there was “lingering resentment” among moderates about Mr Constance’s run against Maria Kovacic in May’s preselection, and that some didn’t resonate with his “next cab off the rank” mindset.

“He only started to get a chunk of preferences in the latter rounds,” the source said.

Sources from across the right said Lou Amato’s late withdrawal on the eve of the state convection had a knock-on effect on powerbroker Alex Hawke’s block, who then settled on Mr Sharma.

Moderate sources said Mr Hawke’s role, however, was “exaggerated”.

“If it wasn’t Dave, someone else would have knocked him off – Andrew wasn’t getting to 251,” he said.

“The preferences weren’t flowing his way, shown by the influx of votes to Dave from Zed Seselja.”

Sources close to Mr Constance’s campaign said they felt senior moderates had misled them.

“Andrew is of the view that we should assess some of the relationships we have with certain moderates,” the party insider said, who admitted he thought Mr Sharma had “no chance”.

“We’re still trying to figure out (how Mr Constance lost).

“People lie – told us Andrew had their support and then worked behind the scenes against him.

“We thought we had this stitched up. Clearly something went wrong.”

He said retiring senator Ms Payne was “quite devastated with the result”, who believed the result “could split the moderates into Sydney-based and regional-based”.

The source said Mr Constance was “hurt and bruised”, and Sunday’s shock defeat could be used against him if he were to run again in Gilmore.

“We need someone of his calibre in parliament, but members may think: ‘how many chances should he get’?”