Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says he won’t tolerate the late selection of federal Liberal candidates for election, following the debacle seen in NSW.
The hand-picking of candidates in March and April has been blamed in part for the Liberals in NSW failing to make any gains on Labor or winning back the independent-held seat of Warringah.
Two ministers, Sussan Ley and Alex Hawke, were also left in the preselection lurch until the last minute, but went on to retain their seats.
There was a two-party-preferred swing of just over 3 per cent against the coalition in NSW, leaving the Liberals holding nine out of 47 seats.
Mr Dutton said there was a process under way in the NSW division of the party.
“We’re not going to tolerate that situation to be repeated again,” he told 2GB radio on Thursday.
“People in local communities deserve to know who their candidates are early on.
“Plus, we want those candidates out working hard in the local community to establish their credentials and to be in a position where they can win those seats.”
He said without a change in the process the coalition would not be in a position to “clean up Labor’s mess” at the next poll.
A number of former and current Liberal figures, including Tony Abbott and Senator Andrew Bragg, have urged the NSW division to overhaul preselection processes.
Mr Dutton endorsed his coalition partner, Nationals leader David Littleproud, who defeated Barnaby Joyce for the party’s top job at a meeting on Monday.
“David is a thoroughly decent bloke and I think (he) will be a great leader of the National Party,” he said.
Mr Dutton said Mr Littleproud would bring a common-sense approach to the job.
