Holsworthy MP Melanie Gibbons ‘not suitable’ for federal seat: Libs

NSW Liberal president Philip Ruddock says Holsworthy MP Melanie Gibbons is not suitable to run in the federal seat of Hughes because she is needed in state parliament as the party remains paralysed over preselections.

In an extraordinary criticism of a sitting MP, a motion sent by Mr Ruddock to state executive members on Tuesday night said former Young Liberals president Alex Dore should be the candidate.

Holsworthy MP Melanie Gibbons is likely to quit politics if she is not preselected for the federal seat of Hughes. Credit: Brook Mitchell

As the NSW division of the Liberal Party continues its internal war over preselections ahead of the looming federal election, the lengthy motion was the latest attempt to end the damaging impasse.

Ms Gibbons is one of three nominees for Hughes, currently held by Liberal turncoat Craig Kelly, including lawyer Jenny Ware and Alex Cook, another local candidate.

However, the motion, which has the support of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier Dominic Perrottet, warns the three nominees could not win the seat, according to a source on state executive.

Former Young Liberals president Alex Dore was previously touted as a candidate for Warringah but may be parachuted into the seat of Hughes.Credit: Rhett Wyman

“Unfortunately, none of the persons who nominated are suitable or provide the division with its best chance of winning the election,” the motion says.

The motion is likely to enrage Ms Gibbons, who has already made it clear that she is prepared to quit politics completely if Mr Dore is imposed on the seat.

It also says Ms Gibbons is needed in Holsworthy for next year’s state election. However, she has told colleagues that she would seriously consider walking away from the seat and force a byelection.

While Ms Gibbons is being blocked from a federal tilt, former transport minister Andrew Constance quit state politics to contest the federal seat of Gilmore, leading to the Perrottet government losing his former seat of Bega in a byelection last month.

The motion seeks to resolve other problems by bypassing preselections in a number of other seats. It proposed endorsing cardiologist Michael Feneley in Dobell, while conservative Lincoln Parker would be dumped in Warringah in favour of disability campaigner David Brady.

Warringah frontrunner barrister Jane Buncle withdrew her nomination for Warringah amid the preselection delay. Mr Morrison had also been trying to convince former premiers Mike Baird and Gladys Berejiklian to run.

The motion also proposes endorsing Maria Kovacic for Parramatta, banker Pradeep Pathi for Greenway, and Bruce Nockles for Eden-Monaro.

Mr Ruddock’s motion also seeks the endorsement of three sitting MPs who are facing challenges- ministers Sussan Ley and Alex Hawke and backbencher Trent Zimmerman.

“These motions have been proposed as a direct result of the request from Federal Executive to resolve the selection of candidates for the 2022 federal election,” Mr Ruddock’s motion said.

“I will advise the Federal Director that if these motions receive a majority of support from State Executive, but fail to meet the requisite 90 per cent threshold, then I will be proposing that Federal Executive consider these motions at their meeting on Friday 4 March 2022.”

State executive was voting on the ballot overnight, with the results to be known later on Wednesday.

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