Liberal powerbrokers stitch together last-minute preselection deal
NSW state executive would bypass preselections and endorse candidates for every outstanding seat, after factional parties reached an agreement.
The NSW Liberal Party would bypass preselections and endorse candidates for almost every outstanding seat, after factional powerbrokers stitched together a last-minute deal in a bid to overcome an impasse jeopardising the party’s ability to win key battleground seats.
NSW Liberal president Philip Ruddock emailed the electronic ballot to members of the state executive on Tuesday night, seeking the endorsement of Scott Morrison’s three sitting MPs – Alex Hawke, Sussan Ley and Trent Zimmerman – while parachuting candidates into a raft of seats including Dobell, Hughes, Eden-Monaro and Warringah.
The motion received 16 votes in favour, six against and one abstention. Two people failed to respond in time.
While it did not reach the 90 per cent threshold required to pass state executive, the majority vote in favour of the motion will place pressure on the federal executive.
One Liberal source said the result surpassed expectations: “The Prime Minister will use this to make the case for federal intervention to demonstrate the clear will of the state executive.”
Factional infighting has paralysed the preselection process for months, leaving a raft of vital marginal seats without endorsed candidates.
The ballot – allegedly the result of a deal between centre-right leader Mr Hawke and the moderate faction – claimed the support of the Prime Minister, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Liberal federal director Andrew Hirst.
The motions sought to endorse PwC management consultant Alex Dore as the Hughes candidate, despite grassroots fury at the prospect of a candidate being imposed.
In Dobell, cardiologist Michael Feneley would be selected, while conservative Lincoln Parker was ditched in Warringah, party heavyweights opting for disability campaigner David Brady.
“These motions have been proposed as a direct result of the request from federal executive to resolve the selection of candidates for the 2022 federal election,” Mr Ruddock wrote in the motion.
“I will advise the federal director that if these motions receive a majority of support from state executive but fail to meet the requisite 90 per cent threshold, then I will be proposing that federal executive consider these motions at their meeting on Friday, 4 March, 2022.”
Under the proposed motion, Maria Kovacic will be endorsed to contest retiring Labor MP Julie Owens’ seat of Parramatta; banker Pradeep Pathi will get the nod in the Labor-held seat in northwest Sydney Greenway; and Jerry Nockles, former chief of staff to Liberal senator Jim Molan, will be selected in Eden-Monaro.
Sources close to members of state executive were considering injunctive action if federal executive approved the deal.
Some grassroots members have responded angrily to the deal.
One senior Liberal source said: “Scott Morrison has to take responsibility for NSW imploding.
“The Prime Minister might be putting the finger up at grassroots members but his attitude is directed at everyday Australians.”
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