Federal Liberals Take Control of NSW Branch Following Nomination Failure

The entire state executive branch, including party President Don Harwin, has been sacked. The meeting was held at the behest of Federal Liberal Leader Peter Dutton.

The decision was made after the executive received a report on Brian Loughnane’s review of the NSW Liberals, commissioned in response to the nomination failure and a widely perceived lack of preparedness to contest the federal election next year.

“We owe it to our thousands of members in the state to address the challenges within the organisational wing of the NSW division,” the federal executive said.

“More importantly, we owe it to the millions of Australians who are relying on the Liberal party to return Australia to good government after the next election to get our house in order.”

The plan had been to re-appoint former State Director Chris Stone, and have the state executive replaced by what it called “three eminent Australians as a committee of management.”

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They are former Howard government Minister Richard Alston, former Victorian State Treasurer Alan Stockdale, and former NSW MP Rob Stokes. Under the proposal, the three men would run the party for 10 months.

But Stokes has already refused the role, saying he was “humbled to be asked, but … not in a position to accept,” while NSW Liberal Party leader Mark Speakman has said he’s not happy with the committee’s membership—though he was in favour of Stokes.

“The proposed appointees have significant experience,” he said, “but I would welcome the inclusion of an experienced female in this crucial role.

“Views may differ on the scope and purpose of the committee, but what is more important is that all Liberals unite to defeat the Albanese Labor government and the Minns Labor government.”

After the NSW Liberals missed the deadline, they initially threatened to take legal action against the NSW Electoral Commission after they were refused an extension.

However, party officials decided not to proceed, admitted fault, and sacked state director Richard Shields.

His replacement by Chris Stone was welcomed by the state leader, who he said had an “in-depth understanding of the complexities of political operations. His expertise is exactly what the party needs to navigate the challenges ahead,” Speakman said.

As a result of the failure, eight local councils—including a number of Liberal strongholds—will be without a Liberal candidate on the ballot at the election.