An attempt to endorse three prominent sitting Morrison government MPs without the need for plebiscites has been rejected by warring factions of the NSW Liberal party, dramatically increasing the prospect of federal intervention.
A motion sponsored by the prime minister’s office and sent to the 27-strong NSW state executive as a “fax ballot” has failed to pass.
It asked the state executive to bypass the preselection process in North Sydney, Farrer and Mitchell – effectively saving the careers of the moderate faction leader, Trent Zimmerman, the environment minister, Sussan Ley and the immigration minister, Alex Hawke.
The vote required 90% support to pass but the motion was rejected by “double digits” of the state executive, one factional organiser said.
By late Monday afternoon, there were attempts to withdraw the failed motion – a trigger for federal intervention – as desperate factional organisers tried to come up with another compromise acceptable to the state executive.
The party failed to consider a comprehensive peace deal on Friday night at its regular meeting because of lack of support.
Federal intervention in the state branch using special powers is similar to appointing an administrator and would almost certainly trigger legal action – which could see the party embroiled in court action as it seeks to fight four state byelections on 12 February and a federal election likely in May.
One state executive member, Matthew Camenzeuli, has already written to the state director, Chris Stone, foreshadowing legal action if preselections do not proceed according to the rules.
The result suggests there is now such a level of distrust between the factions that a deal will be hard to reach, despite the prime minister, Scott Morrison, taking a direct interest.
“Some people voted on a point of principle and do not want to bypass democracy, some want to poke the PM in the eye,” said one observer.
The crisis within the NSW Liberals has in part been triggered by new rules introduced in 2018 by the Warringah motion championed by former primer minister Tony Abbott.
The rules require plebiscites to be held in branches to choose the state and federal candidates. Branch members have 75 % of the votes with head office making up the other 25%.
The ongoing uncertainty is taking a toll and will make it extremely difficult for the Liberals to run effective campaigns throwing seats into doubt.
Two contentious seats – Dobell and Hughes – are still be to resolved, as are preselections for several others with vacancies including Warringah, Bennelong and Parramatta.
Morrison’s preferred candidate for Dobell, Jemima Gleason, a pentecostal preacher, has withdrawn and another potential candidate – a well-known cricketer – has also cooled on the idea. That leaves just one candidate, Dr Michael Feneley, who is backed by the right faction.
The proposal to springboard a former Young Liberal from Manly, Alex Dore, into Hughes has also angered local branches who have been denied the right to choose a candidate for the last three federal elections.
The party did, however, on Monday endorse a number of uncontentious preselections, including Morrison himself for Cook, the energy minister, Angus Taylor, for Hume, the communications minister, Paul Fletcher, for Bradfield, Fiona Marton for Reid, Michael Cains in Whitlam and Wissam “Sam” Kayal in Werriwa. The last two must still pass the vetting process which has been held up for months.
The NSW Senate ticket will go to a ballot, with the foreign minister, Marise Payne, in the No 1 spot, and two other sitting senators, Concetta Fierrvante-Wells and Jim Molan battling it out for the next winnable spot at No 3. The No 2 spot is filled by the Nationals. Dallas McInerney, one of the right faction conveners, is not nominating. Nominations close on Monday.
The NSW division has also set a date for its annual general meeting – another contentious matter – for 27 March.
