Dominic Perrottet defends need for diversity in NSW Liberal Party

Dominic Perrottet refuses to back down over the decision to dump three senior Liberal men in favour of women candidates.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has defended the decision to dump three senior Liberal men to increase the number of women in the state upper house by saying diversity in politics ­improves policy results.

The state executive was given fewer than four hours to vote on Tuesday on the proposed preselection ballot that moved Communities Minister Natasha Maclaren-Jones and state executive member Susan Carter and Rachel Merton into winnable spots.

Downgraded were upper house president and political veteran Matthew Mason-Cox, former Wollondilly Shire deputy mayor Lou Amato and Shayne Mallard, the state parliamentary secretary for Western Sydney.

Mr Perrottet on Wednesday said preselections were part of political life and stressed more diversity in the upper house would lead to better policy.

“Matthew Mason-Cox may have served our parliament well but I’m also encouraged by other people putting their hands up and fresh talent coming in with the energy, the experience to make a real difference to the state of NSW,” he said.

An earlier deal to install more female candidates, brokered by Mr Perrottet, was scrapped on Friday due to factional infighting.

The move to install more women has caused considerable anger within parts of the Right faction over what was seen as a power play by the conservative Premier and his moderate Treasurer, Matt Kean.

Mr Perrottet said the state ­Coalition needed to move forward, something the new pre­selection ticket would achieve bore the state election in March.

“I made it very clear to the party I wanted to see more women preselected here in NSW, and that’s exactly what the party achieved,” he said.

“I welcomed the decision that came yesterday because ultimately, as I said, the better people we have putting their hands up for public life, the better outcomes we get.”

Mr Mason-Cox on Tuesday branded the preselection re­shuffle a “perverse factional stitch-up” and said installing Sydney-based women to represent voters in the country was insulting to party members.

The successful bid to include 50 per cent women on the ticket intends to head off mounting criticism of sexism within Liberal Party ranks and counter the threat posed by teal independents ahead of the next election.

A review into the Liberals’ federal election loss, headed by senior Liberal Brian Loughnane and Senator Jane Hume, recommended supporting female candidates and adopting a common standard around preselections.