New Liberal leader Kellie Sloane vows to beat Chris Minns in 2027

Kellie Sloane has made her boldest pitch yet for the 2027 election, telling Liberal members the party will rise again.

NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane has used a speech to the Liberal Party faithful to declare she could beat Premier Chris Minns at the 2027 state election, as she made her first joint appearance with federal counterpart Sussan Ley.

Addressing the NSW Liberal state council on Saturday, Ms Sloane called on members to “stand with me” and “stand with your candidates” ahead of the next poll. “The road to March 2027 will be demanding,” she said. “It will take discipline, unity and relentless focus. But I believe deeply in our party, in our values and in our capacity to rise to this moment. We have done it before. And we will do it again.”

Kellie Sloane invoked Robert Menzies and John Howard in her speech to NSW Liberal State Council on Saturday.

In her first state council since replacing Mark Speakman, Ms Sloane invoked two former Liberal prime ministers in promising to put families at the centre of her policy agenda.

“Robert Menzies spoke of the forgotten people who shoulder the real responsibilities of national life,” she said. “John Howard reminded us that the strength of the nation begins in the strength of the household.

“Those principles still matter. Supporting families is not only sound policy, it is our duty.”

In her address, Ms Ley ramped up her attack on Labor’s reforms to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, which passed federal parliament on Friday

“What did we see on the last sitting day? We saw something called environmental laws … all it is greening and red tape. But what it saw the rebirth of is the Labor Greens alliance. It is back,” Ms Ley said.

Sussan Ley addresses the NSW Liberal State Council on Saturday.

“It is back in force, and it is going to hold back the projects that we know this country needs. And you know what else it is going to do? It is not going to protect the environment.”

After a bruising month – which saw renewed speculation over her leadership and infighting over net zero and immigration – the Opposition leader committed to continuing her campaign blitz on energy over the summer months.

“[The Coalition’s energy plan] is coming to a train station, town hall forum and market square near you over the summer months, because the fight that we are having for Australians is about energy affordability and responsible emissions reduction.”

Originally published as New Liberal leader Kellie Sloane vows to beat Chris Minns in 2027