Gladys, Scomo back as Libs prepare for bloody battle

Gladys Berejiklian and Scott Morrison are back to help the NSW Liberals recruit new members ahead of the looming federal election campaign with the pair starring in a new party video dubbed “We Believe”.

Gladys Berejiklian and Scott Morrison are back to help the NSW Liberals recruit new members ahead of the looming federal election campaign with the pair starring in a new party video dubbed “We Believe”.

It is Ms Berejiklian’s first major foray back into politics since being forced to resign as premier in the wake of an ICAC scandal, with her involvement a coup for the party given her immense popularity despite the controversy.

The Optus executive has kept a low profile since quitting public life, making a rare public appearance earlier this month to support tech executive Gisele Kapterian in her successful bid against Warren Mundine in the Bradfield preselection.

Ms Berejiklian and Mr Morrison are joined by a roll call of Liberal heavyweights from John Howard and Tony Abbott to Nick Greiner and Dominic Perrottet to tout the party’s values in encouraging wealth and not interfering in people living their lives to working to maintain world peace and protecting the natural environment in an initiative designed to drive membership after a slump over recent years.

Scott Morrison says Australia has “a constructive role to play in maintaining world peace” in the “We Believe” campaign video.

In his piece to camera, Mr Morrison said it was the Liberals’ view that Australia had “a constructive role to play in maintaining world peace and democracy through alliances with other free nations”.

Mr Abbott declares the party to be one that believed in “those most basic freedoms of parliamentary democracy, freedom of thought, worship, speech and association”, while NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said it espoused the importance of family and the rule of law and justice.

NSW Holsworthy MP Tina Ayyad, senior Liberal frontbencher Angus Taylor, NSW deputy Liberal leader Natalie Ward and long-serving party member Miriam Geddes who first joined up in 1946 are also featured.

Ms Geddes said the Liberals encouraged wealth - something Mr Perrottet said was important in enabling Australians to be able to enjoy “the highest possible standards of living, health, education and social justice.”

Leader Peter Dutton said the Liberals believed government should “not compete with an efficient private sector”.

NSW Opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane - who some are touting as a future leader - said the Liberals also believed in the protection of the environment, declaring it believed in “preserving Australia’s natural beauty and the environment for future generations”.

Gladys Berejiklian also appears in the “We Believe” campaign video.

Mr Howard, who has made himself available for every party campaign, urged people who had similar values to sign up.

“If you share our beliefs, join us,” he said.

The video is the brainchild of veteran party campaigner Chris Stone, who last year tried to retire as NSW Liberal state director only to be wooed back by Mr Dutton and Mr Speakman after the party was enveloped in a series of scandals, including the council nominations fiasco.

Mr Stone, who said the pathway to winning the next federation election was “through NSW”, said the battle would be unlike any other.

“We’re under no illusion, the upcoming election will take an enormous effort to defeat a first-term government – and that’s why we’re calling on like-minded people from across NSW to join us and our candidates who are campaigning in electorates across the state,” he said.

“This election is unlike any in recent memory.”

Originally published as Gladys, Scomo back as Libs prepare for bloody battle