Federal Libs to discuss taking control after NSW division blunders council nominations

The federal branch of the Liberal Party will reportedly discuss seizing control of the NSW division following a massive administrative blunder that led to about 140 candidates missing the local government election nominations deadline.

NSW State Liberal Party president Don Harwin. Picture: Matrix

The federal branch of the Liberal Party would seize control of the NSW division, amid reports the federal executive will meet on September 3 to discuss the massive administrative blunder that led to the party missing a deadline for about 140 candidates in the local government election nominations.

The federal executive is expected to consider the NSW division’s ability leading into a federal election due by May next year, with one source telling The Daily Telegraph “(Peter) Dutton is dead serious about this”.

The move comes after the NSW Liberals threatened legal action against the state’s electoral commission in a bid to compel it to extend its deadline for local government election nominations. In a statement issued on Sunday, the state division of the party said the NSW Electoral Commission admitted it had made “a significant error” in the lead-up to the local government elections” and called on it to reconsider its earlier decision not to extend the deadline.

“In its election notice dated 9 August 2024, the NSW Electoral Commission wrongly published the formal notification of the election and called for nomination proposals five days before the close for nominations, instead of the required minimum of seven days as mandated by clause 288(1) of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 (NSW),” the statement reads.

The Liberal Party said the electoral commission admitted to the error in a response to Liberal state president Don Harwin’s request last Friday that the electoral commission extend the deadline for the close of nominations, a request the electoral commission refused.

Acting Electoral Commissioner for New South Wales, Dr Matthew Phillips. Picture: Facebook

On Sunday, acting NSW electoral commissioner Matthew ­Phillips rejected the Liberals’ second request. “The commissioner accepts a formal election notice was published on the NSW Electoral Commission’s website five days prior to close of nominations, rather than seven days,” the electoral commission said.

“However, the commissioner had widely publicised the nomination date and related information on the NSW Electoral Commission’s website, as well as through statewide advertising via print and social media months in advance of the nomination date.

“It had also communicated this information directly to parties and candidates on numerous occasions since May 2024. The commission first published the nomination date on its website in October 2023.

“The commissioner does not consider there could have been a realistic possibility that officials of the NSW division of the Liberal Party of Australia, or persons proposing to run as candidates endorsed by that party, could have been unaware of the nomination day or of the processes by which nominations could be made.”

The Liberal Party said the mistake was more than a technicality and went “to the heart of ensuring a fair and transparent election”.

“Despite acknowledging this error, the NSW Electoral Commission has chosen not to extend the nomination deadline … The Liberal Party of Australia NSW Division is deeply concerned that the NSW Electoral Commission, which is entrusted with the integrity of our elections, would refuse to take the necessary steps to correct its own error. Should the NSW Electoral Commission fail to act, the Liberal Party of Australia NSW Division will be left with no other option but to pursue legal avenues to compel it to extend the nomination deadline.”