Liberal preselection: PM wants end to ‘childish games’

Environment Minister Sussan Ley says she is frustrated by a looming factional showdown in her southern NSW seat of Farrer.

Liberal Sussan Ley has revealed her frustration at the growing potential of facing a preselection for her safe seat of Farrer after a push to directly endorse her and other NSW MPs was rolled this week.

Ms Ley, Alex Hawke and Trent Zimmerman were hoping to be automatically endorsed by the party’s state executive on Monday, but the trio remains in preselection limbo in another major pre-election distraction for the Coalition.

Speaking in her hometown of Albury on Thursday, Ms Ley said: “I’m always disappointed when behaviour in any political party is not directed to the most important thing.

“There is only one agenda for the government and there should be only one agenda for those who seek to represent the Liberal Party.

“Where other manoeuvring, factional deals, backroom conversations and branch stacking happen, that is disappointing because it doesn’t give people the confidence they need to know that this party and their representatives are working for them.”

Unless there is federal intervention into the NSW preselection process, Ms Ley, the Federal Environment Minister, will be challenged by Christian Ellis from Deniliquin, a hard line conservative.

“Every single day I get up and I go to work for the people of Farrer,” Ms Ley said.

“As we come out of Covid, we’re determined to get unemployment with (the number) three in front of it, not a four, we work hard to make sure people have the opportunities for jobs, the training, the skills and employment prospects that they absolutely deserve.

“I know Liberal Party representatives who don’t sign onto that agenda don’t deserve to be in our party.

“I’ve nominated, I’m determined to be the best possible candidate on the ballot paper come the election and face a fair contest.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sydney’s 2GB this week there were some “childish games going on” in relation to preselection.