David Elliott future splits Dominic Perrottet and his faction

A split has emerged between NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and members of his conservative faction over the political future of Transport Minister David Elliott.

NSW Transport Minister David Elliott. Picture: Richard Dobson

A split has emerged between NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and members of his conservative faction over the political future of Transport Minister David Elliott, despite the party’s state executive clearing him to run in the seat of Castle Hill.

Mr Elliott’s failure to renew his Liberal Party membership sparked a brief factional skirmish on the state executive as conservatives tried to use the lapse to force the MP out of parliament. That issue was resolved on Wednesday after moderates heeded a call from Mr Perrottet and agreed to approve his waiver.

Six conservative members, however, remained resolute, with the faction’s powerbrokers seeking a deal to ensure Mr Elliott would be unable to run in the seat of Castle Hill, forcing him instead to run in Kellyville against his centre-right ally, Ray Williams.

As part of the NSW Electoral Commission’s electorate redistribution, Mr Elliott’s current seat of Baulkham Hills will become Kelly­ville while Mr Williams’ seat will become Castle Hill, encompassing a significant portion of Mr Elliott’s old seat.

On Wednesday, Mr Elliott categorically ruled out contesting in Kellyville, in Sydney’s northwest, saying he would not knife a “mate”. Members of the Right, however, claimed he was canvassing support from conservatives to run in Kellyville just last week.

Mr Elliott was contacted for comment.

Liberal sources said Mr Perrottet had argued that Mr Elliott’s failure to renew membership was simply an administrative error, and should be waived as a matter of principle – a position held by Liberal moderates.

The directive from Mr Perrottet put him at odds with members of his own faction – led by his brother, Charles Perrottet – who were incensed Mr Elliott was given a waiver to run in whatever seat he chooses, ensuring a preselection showdown in Castle Hill.

One Liberal source said “The whole party is flabbergasted by Dom trying to save Elliott and Ray, the two people who forced him out of Castle Hill last redistribution,” the source said. “The fear is Dom is attempting the path of least resistance by keeping Elliott and denying grassroots branches a fair preselection.”

Members of the Right were confident a branch reallocation ensured their candidate, Norton Rose Fulbright partner Noel McCoy, had the numbers to win a grassroots preselection, but other Liberal sources said Mr Elliott’s profile might complicate that.