NSW Liberal moderates fall behind Andrew Constance in senate preselection race

It’s understood support for the former NSW transport minister to succeed retiring senator Marise Payne has been rubber-stamped, making his path to Canberra more clear.

Andrew Constance. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Members of the NSW Liberal’s moderate faction have fallen behind Andrew Constance in the race to succeed retiring Senator Marise Payne in a boost to the presumed frontrunner.

The Australian understands that moderate members met on Friday morning where their support for the former NSW transport minister was rubber-stamped, making the presumed frontrunner’s path to Canberra more clear.

It comes after former Wentworth federal MP Dave Sharma made a late entry into the 10-person preselection field on Wednesday, previously thought to have significantly impacted Mr Constance’s candidacy.

However, senior Liberal insiders – speaking on the condition of anonymity – told The Australian that the moderates had thrown their support behind Mr Constance, who came close but was unsuccessful in May’s preselection to replace the late Jim Molan.

“There is overwhelming support for Andrew,” one senior party insider said.

Andrew Constance. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“There is no contingency or Plan B – if you’re a moderate then the instruction is Andrew.”

The senior source said “Dave (Sharma) was not sanctioned” but also said his candidacy was a “non-event”.

“He’s got zero support,” that source said.

The support for Mr Constance clears his path forward in a packed candidate field.

“There’s a sense of loyalty to Andrew (given May’s preselection result),” another source said.

“But he’s already done the groundwork from May, met with preselectors – I think he’ll get over, especially with splits emerging across the right.”

Dave Sharma. Picture: Renee Nowytarger

The 10-person field follows Ms Payne’s September announcement she would retire from politics.

Leading No advocate Warren Mundine had been touted to run, and was seen as one of two frontrunners with Mr Constance, but ruled himself out after backlash to controversial comments about land treaties.

The ten-person field also includes: former ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselija, former NSW MLC Lou Amato, Monica Tudehope – a former adviser to ex-premier Dominic Perrottet – Jess Collins, former RSL NSW president James Brown, lawyer Pallavi Sinha, barrister Ishita Sethi, and solicitor Nimalan Rutnam.

Zed Seselja (left) with then prime minister Scott Morrison. Picture: Kym Smith

Sources said it was firming to be a race between Mr Constance, and one of the right-backed candidates of Mr Seselija, Mr Amato or Ms Tudehope.

It is understood that support on the ‘hard right’ – the right has split in two – is now firming more behind Mr Seselija than Mr Amato, with key powerbrokers in that faction migrating behind the former ACT senator.

However, other insiders with knowledge of the situation cautioned against underestimating Mr Amato’s numbers.

“Lou has got decent numbers of the ‘vigilante right’ who are sick of the establishment right running things,” one source said.

However, although Mr Seselija’s entry has caused “some friction in the right … some view him as a blow-in”, he is seen as the most likely to threaten Mr Constance’s bid.

In the ‘establishment right’, it is understood support is firming behind Ms Tudehope.

About 700 state council delegates will vote to decide Ms Payne’s replacement on November 26 – the weekend of the party’s state convention, “A New Hope” – in a compulsory preference system.